76ers Stifle Heat

Mutombo grabbed 18 rebounds, blocked five shots and altered plenty of others Wednesday night, more than making up for another poor shooting night from Allen Iverson as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Miami Heat 79-69.

"We beat a great team and it was a great feeling," Mutombo said. "I`m glad that I`m adjusting very quickly."

The tense, defensive-minded game ended with the fans taunting Miami coach Pat Riley, who questioned the Sixers` loyalty a day earlier for their trade of Theo Ratliff for Mutombo.

The Sixers beat the Heat for the third time this season, and Riley and his big men got a close-up look at what a difference Mutombo can make. Mutombo`s presence helped force Miami center Brian Grant to shoot 1-for-13 and forward Anthony Mason to go 1-for-8.

"Even though Dikembe blocked a few shots," Riley said. "I think those guys probably missed 12 or 13 open jumpers."

So did Iverson, who followed up an 8-for-27 performance on Monday by attempting 27 shots and missing 21.

Iverson still finished with 27 points as he went 14-for-18 from the line. Rodney Buford added 16 points, tying his season-high, and Mutombo had 10.

"Our shot selection is getting worse every game," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "As a team we defended great, and that got us the win. We have to get a better understanding of how to play offensively.

"Our effort is phenomenal. We`re trying to win and playing hard, but we have to have to have a little more trust and include more people in our offense," Brown said.

Eddie Jones led Miami with 22 points and Tim Hardaway had 20. The rest of the Heat shot a combined 8-for-42.

Philadelphia snapped a two-game losing streak and avoided its first three-game slide of the season.

Iverson scored 13 points in the first quarter but went cold in the second, missing all six of his shots, although the Sixers still managed to build an eight-point halftime advantage as Buford scored 11 points in the quarter.

Philadelphia stretched its lead to 44-32 early in the third quarter as Iverson capped a 13-1 run with two free throws, but Hardaway hit three 3-pointers in the period to help Miami pull within three.

The Sixers took a 60-53 lead into the fourth, and Iverson scored five straight points -- three from the foul line -- to give Philadelphia a 68-57 lead with 7:08 left.

After Grant made two free throws, Iverson hit a 3-pointer and Aaron McKie beat Jones on a drive to make it 73-59.

"They`ve beaten us three straight times. That`s where we are," Riley said. "We`re looking up at them, as is everybody in the Eastern Conference."

Notes:
Miami`s Bruce Bowen guarded Iverson for most of the night, and the two engaged some heated words in the third quarter. During one timeout, the officials had to come over and tell Iverson to move along after he spent several seconds jawing with Bowen. ... Sixers forward Roshown McLeod, acquired in the Mutombo trade, will be out for the rest of the season because of nerve damage in his left calf. ... The Sixers drew their 10th sellout of the season. ... Iverson has made a 3-pointer in 18 straight games. ... Miami dropped to 15-16 on the road.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)