Allen Iverson Live

Despite nursing a troubled knee, Allen Iverson chose not to skip practice.

“I was surprised,” Coach Jordan said with a smile before turning serious. “He wanted to practice today to show leadership. He feels good about our growth. It’s very encouraging.”

76ers coach Eddie Jordan understood the irony yesterday when he was asked about Allen Iverson’s participating in practice after he had played 34 minutes in the team’s 93-92 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

The veteran guard is nursing a troublesome left knee that has made his availability day-to-day.

“We had our opportunity to win the game,” Iverson said. “We were one shot away. We had a lead in the fourth quarter, and we let it get away. It’s extremely hard to come in here after a loss, especially a loss like that. It’s something we have to do. It’s our job to come in here and give everything you’ve got.

“We tried to get something out of the practice, and that’s what we did today.”

A.I.’s gratitude. Iverson on being second among Eastern Conference guards in the All-Star Game fan voting:

“That’s an honor. Without the fans, there wouldn’t be us. I think my situation is unique. I haven’t played as much as the other guys, but the fans want to see me play. That’s a good feeling, just to know that people that support us and make us want to see me play. That’s a great feeling, but it’s also a tribute to the teammates and the coaches I’ve had.”

The Sixers will play Allen Iverson’s former team, the Detroit Pistons, tonight and some say he will get a rude reception from the Detroit Fans. Or will he? It seems that Allen Iverson was injured during the last game when he was kneed on the knee. Report says that he didn’t travel to Detroit. So he may not hear it from the crowd after all. Hopefully, however, Allen is healthy enough to play in the All-Star game, where he is voted a starter with Dwayne Wade.

Iverson is second in voting behind Miami’s Dwyane Wade for East guards. Iverson says he would “absolutely” attend the Feb. 14 at Arlington, Texas.

“The fans make us,” Iverson said. “It’s a special accomplishment when people want to see you play.”

He added that he hasn’t entirely ruled out playing. He just wants to be smart about his decision.

“We’re going to make the best decision for this team,” he said.

Iverson said his knee had been feeling better, but flared up after Philadelphia’s loss to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. He said the knee swelled up the next two days.

Bad news is that Allen Iverson is still out of action due to a knee injury.  He sat out the game against the clippers, where the Sixers lost in overtime.

Sixers coach Eddie Jordan made the announcement before Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, saying Iverson will not return until Philadelphia’s game against Portland on Dec. 28 at the earliest.

“Rest is the best thing for him, for about a week now,” Jordan said. “He feels confident that he’ll feel great the rest of the year.”

The Sixers received good news with guard Lou Williams returning to the lineup after missing 12 games with a broken jaw. Williams was hurt in a Nov. 24 game against Washington and had surgery the next morning. He was expected to miss at least eight weeks.

With Williams back, Jordan will have to address the issue of playing time when Iverson returns.

“I need to buy a nice $100 bottle of wine to sort that out,” he said. “That would be some thought process, a good thought process. We have some good, skilled guards and it’s just a matter of how does it fit.”

With a last minute tip in, Sixers snapped another streak.  Days after snapping their own 12-game skid, the 76ers ended Boston’s run at 11 wins, beating the first-place Celtics 98-97 on Friday night on Elton Brand’s tip-in with 7.7 seconds left.

They had won only once in their previous 14 games and they were without newly acquired Allen Iverson, who has arthritis in his left knee and had it drained twice this week.

Hopefully AI returns to action against the Clippers.  Report say that he he may – or may not – play tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers.