Stung in Charlotte

Wesley hit a 3-pointer with 5.9 seconds to play Saturday night to lift the Hornets to an 86-85 victory over Philadelphia, snapping the 76ers` six-game winning streak.

It was the second straight game Wesley made a winning last-minute 3. He lifted Charlotte to a 93-91 victory over Golden State on Thursday night with a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left.

"I`ve never had a history of being the guy who takes the last shot," Wesley said. "But I`ve developed it this year and I`ve gained a confidence in taking those shots. I expect to make them."

Allen Iverson scored 47 points for Philadelphia, passing the 40-point mark for the 14th time this season and for the sixth time in his last 11 games.

But he faltered late, especially on the last shot.

The Sixers took a timeout after Wesley`s shot to draw up the last play. The ball went to Iverson, who was double-teamed by Eddie Robinson and Baron Davis as he tried to drive into the lane.

Davis stripped the ball from him and took off toward the other end of the court as Iverson looked on helplessly and the game clock expired.

It was one of the rare times the Hornets stopped Iverson.

"He had an amazing game and we couldn`t stop him until the end -- and that`s when it counted," said Davis, who insisted he didn`t foul Iverson.

"I didn`t touch him, he`ll tell you."

Iverson didn`t agree, but still blamed himself.

"I got the ball, I turn around and he just runs through me and takes the ball -- a play like that I thought I was going to get the call," Iverson said. "Even with the no call it`s my fault because I`m supposed to make that shot."

Robinson led Charlotte with 15 points. Davis finished with 14 points and 10 assists, Wesley had 13 points and Jamal Mashburn and Elden Campbell each scored 12.

Iverson was Philadelphia`s only player in double figures. Dikembe Mutombo, acquired Thursday in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, had nine points and nine rebounds in 35 minutes.

"You`ve got to believe that one man can`t beat you," coach Paul Silas said. "But I`ll give (Iverson) credit, he keeps coming at you."

Iverson scored nine straight points in the fourth quarter to put the Sixers up 77-76 with 5:21 to play. The game stayed close from there, until Charlotte missed three straight shots and Philadelphia converted to take an 85-80 lead on Iverson`s jumper with 2:03 to play.

Charlotte then won it with two 3-pointers in the final minute.

Mashburn cut it to 85-83 on a 3 with 43 seconds to go. Iverson then missed a 20-footer and Mashburn got the rebound with 14 seconds to play.

The Hornets came out of a timeout looking for Wesley. He broke free on a triple screen off the baseline, cut under the basket and found an opening in the left corner.

Davis fed him the ball and he drilled the shot for the victory.

"We gave up two 3`s the last two plays, we can`t do that," Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said. "But give them credit, they knocked down two big shots and ran a terrific play for Wesley."

Game notes
Iverson shot a 3-pointer over Robinson the first two times the Charlotte forward checked in the game to guard him. ... The Hornets drew their second sellout of the season. The other one came last week against the Los Angeles Lakers. ... Rodney Buford, waived by Charlotte the morning training camp opened, played one minute for the Sixers. ... Philadelphia plays its next four games at home.

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)