This was one instance when nobody was complaining about an athlete going into the stands.

After making a steal and a game-winning layup with two-tenths of a second remaining in the extra period of the 76ers' 116-114 overtime victory over the Washington Wizards yesterday, Allen Iverson headed directly toward the crowd at the Wachovia Center.

By Marc Narducci, Inquirer Staff Writer

This was one instance when nobody was complaining about an athlete going into the stands.

After making a steal and a game-winning layup with two-tenths of a second remaining in the extra period of the 76ers' 116-114 overtime victory over the Washington Wizards yesterday, Allen Iverson headed directly toward the crowd at the Wachovia Center. Where did he think he was - Lambeau Field?

After performing the Wachovia Leap, Iverson was embraced by a giddy group of fans who were more than happy to revel with him in his late-game heroics.

"I hope I don't get fined or suspended for going in the stands," Iverson said after the Sixers had evened their record at 6-6. "But I think my reason was a good one. It was special."

Just like his game-winning play.

Washington's Jarvis Hayes made the inbounds pass from midcourt with 3.9 seconds left in overtime. It was Hayes who had tied the score at 114 with an off-balance 29-foot three-pointer with 26.5 seconds to go in the extra period.

As Hayes made the inbounds pass, Iverson cut in front of Gilbert Arenas, stole the ball just inside midcourt, and sped in for the layup. There was two-tenths of a second left.

"It seemed like [Hayes] couldn't get the ball in," Iverson said. "He was kind of panicky. Once I saw him go try to get it in, I just stayed as close as I could."

It obviously was close enough.

"I didn't want to go for it if I couldn't get it and [was going to] give up a wide-open shot," Iverson said. "But once he threw it, my eyes just lit up. I knew I had it."

And then he made a beeline for the fans.

"Without them, I don't think we would have had the momentum to be able to get over the hump after those guys hit big shots after big shots," Iverson said. "Everything was electric in here today. It was just one of those games you remember."

Although he and former Sixer Larry Hughes played scintillating basketball in the second half and overtime, the final play took the steam out of Arenas - and caused him to complain.

"In a close game like that, when [the other team has] a foul to give, you're supposed to give that call up," Arenas said. "Since there was a foul to give, you have to call the little shove [by Iverson]."

It appeared to be a good no-call, no matter what the time in the game, but Arenas had a different perspective. He also had one whale of a second half. After scoring just five first-half points, he finished with 23. He and Hughes took turns burning the Sixers' backcourt after halftime. Hughes, who had been scoreless at the half, finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists for the Wizards (6-5).

"Washington is a good basketball team, and it took every bit of 31 assists and [only] eight turnovers to win the game," Sixers coach Jim O'Brien said.

The Sixers proved that when Iverson has a 13-0 assist-turnover ratio, they have more than a passing chance to win. Iverson, moved to point guard this season, is now averaging 4.5 turnovers per game.

"Tonight, I controlled it [the turnover situation], but I didn't shoot the ball well," said Iverson, who went 9 for 26 from the field while scoring 28 points. "I kind of got frustrated at myself."

There were others to pick him up. Kyle Korver scored a career-high 26 points, hitting 6 of 12 three-pointers. Marc Jackson added 21 points, shooting 9 for 18. John Salmons and Samuel Dalembert came off the bench to score 16 and 13 points, respectively, both season highs.

For the longest time, it appeared as if Iverson's big steal wouldn't be necessary.

Leading by 103-100 with 9.5 seconds left in regulation, the Sixers failed to apply the knockout blow when Jackson missed two free throws.

Hayes, who scored 18 points off the bench, then buried a forced 26-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the score and send the game into overtime.

Surprisingly, O'Brien insisted that the Sixers never flinched, either then or when they trailed by four points with less than three minutes left in overtime.

"It's not a deflating thing," O'Brien said. "That is what leadership is all about."

Then he lauded Iverson for providing that leadership after Hayes forced the extra period.

"Allen came to the bench and said we have to win it in overtime," O'Brien said. "We weren't deflated at all."

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan missed the game after being hospitalized on Thursday with a blood clot in his left leg. Assistant Mike O'Koren ran the team.

"We just wanted to get the last shot and have Gilbert win the game for us," O'Koren said. "Turns out that Allen Iverson is an all-NBA player who made an all-NBA play and won the game for the Sixers."

And then he gave a piece of himself to the fans.

The Extra Mile

The 76ers are now 3-0 in overtime this season at the Wachovia Center, with each win keyed by a dramatic shot by Allen Iverson.

Nov. 10 - Sixers 108, Nets 100. Iverson forces overtime with a 15-foot jumper with 7.2 seconds left in regulation.

Nov. 12 - Sixers 106, Pacers 104. Iverson hits the first game-winning buzzer-beater of his career, sinking a 15-foot jumper.

Nov. 26 - Sixers 116, Wizards 114. After making a steal of an inbounds pass, Iverson hits the game-winning layup with two-tenths of a second left.

Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.