Allen Iverson Live

It was a throwback duel between Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant and the fans got what they paid to see. Too bad it was just like in the 2001 NBA finals, where Bryant’s Lakers topped Allen Iverson’s 76ers.

Allen Iverson had a season high 23 points, while Bryant roused the 20,000 fans who came to jeer him as much as they did to root on the 76ers, scoring 24 points to lead Los Angeles to a 99-91 win over Philadelphia on Friday night.

Iverson and Bryant are responsible for Philadelphia’s only two sellouts this season. Iverson’s first game back in Philadelphia drew 20,664, and Bryant helped draw 20,809 on Friday.

Iverson showed a glimpse of his former MVP self when he crossed-over Derek Fisher(notes) and tossed up a running bank shot as his 6-foot frame slammed onto the unforgiving court. He sank the free throw to complete the three-point play that was vintage Iverson and make it 68-63.

Bryant made the call to guard Iverson at the end of the quarter for a brief 1-on-1 matchup between 3 and 24.

“He’s a scorer, he and I both,” Bryant said. “That’s what we do. We can score when we’re 70 years old.”

“I just got it going a little bit,” Iverson said.

Iverson scored 15 points on 6 for 7 shooting in the third to top Bryant’s 5 of 7, 14-point quarter. Iverson and Bryant each made 10 baskets in the game from the floor.

“That’s what Allen can do,” Phil Jackson said. “I don’t know if he can do it for 48, but he can still do that.”

Iverson insisted he was so focused on trying to win the game, he didn’t get caught up trying to outshine Bryant. He also refused to draw parallels between his career with Bryant’s.

“It’s evident that he is one of the best ever to do it,” Iverson said. “He goes out there night in and night out and plays the same way every night.”