Joined: Nov 21, 2003 Posts: 289 Location: I'M HOMELESS
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2003 6:36 am Post subject: PHILLY VS BOSTON
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 21 (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia 76ers got tired of watching Paul Pierce make clutch shots.
Aaron McKie's jumper snapped a tie with 1:05 remaining and the 76ers chased the ball out of Pierce's hands down the stretch, holding on for an 87-85 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday.
Pierce scored 33 points, including eight in a row that pulled Boston into an 83-83 tie with 1:29 to play. The All-Star swingman, who led all NBA players in fourth-quarter points last season, scored 13 in the final period.
McKie answered Pierce's flurry by beating the shot clock with a 20-footer that gave the Sixers the lead for good. On the next possession, Philadelphia forced a shot-clock violation with a perimeter double-team of Pierce, who had to give up the ball.
Allen Iverson missed badly on a runner, and the Celtics again went to Pierce. With time running down, he tried to dribble into the lane but was harassed by McKie and Eric Snow and again had to pass.
Walter McCarty's corner jumper bounced into the hands of Iverson, who sealed it with two free throws with 5.1 seconds to go.
Returning after a one-game absence due to a sore knee, Iverson scored 24 points on just 8-of-25 shooting but added eight assists for the Sixers (7-6), who are the only team in the Atlantic Division above .500.
