76ers Down Bucks

MILWAUKEE - February 3, 2002 — The Philadelphia 76ers resorted to the tactics that were successful against the Milwaukee Bucks in last year's playoffs. They achieved the same results. Allen Iverson scored 25 points, and Derrick Coleman added 19 as the 76ers rallied late to defeat the Bucks 86-81 Saturday in a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference finals. "As the game transpired, it slowly moved into their kind of game," Bucks coach George Karl said. "By the fourth quarter, it was totally theirs. They're a great defensive team that holds and grabs, bumps and grinds. Our offense was stubborn and selfish. It was a hell of a game. It had playoff mentality to it." In the past, such negative comments from Karl about his team were directed at the so-called "Big Three" of Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell.

"I'm tired of talking about it. We've been talking about the same thing for 3½ years," Karl said. "We'll keep showing them film, we'll keep showing them opportunities. But if they were to continue to refuse to change, there's probably going to have to be a change.

"That means trading one of them or firing me. I think it's come to that, to be honest with you."

Anthony Mason's rebound basket put Milwaukee on top 76-71 with 5:43 remaining, but the Sixers responded with seven consecutive points. Two free throws by Coleman gave Philadelphia a 78-76 lead with 1:57 left.

Allen's jumper from the left baseline tied it at 78, but Eric Snow countered with a turnaround jumper from the free-throw line to make it 80-78 with 1:23 remaining.

Iverson's basket from the top of the key made it 82-78, before Michael Redd's 3-pointer from the top right cut it to 82-81 in the final 10 seconds.

Snow made two free throws to put the Sixers up 84-81.

After a timeout, Allen inbounded from the left side, but Redd's 3-point attempt hit the front of the rim.

Matt Harpring hit two free throws with 0.4 seconds left to seal the win for the Sixers, who also won last year's conference finals in seven games over Milwaukee.

"I thought our defense was really a big factor because they can score," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "Ray got off early, but I thought we did a much better job on him and Glenn.

"We just played real solid. This is the way we used to play games and win games."

Allen had 20 points, and Robinson added 13 for the Bucks, which lost for the fourth time in five home games.

The Sixers shot just 37.5 percent, but made 22 of 26 free throws. Milwaukee was 7 of 10 from the line.

Iverson, listed as probable before the game with flu-like symptoms, played 47 minutes, but made just 9 of 30 shots.

The Sixers, who trailed 14-2 in the opening minutes, used a 9-0 run to take the lead for the first time at 41-40 with 2:06 left in the first half.

"I feel good about this game, better than any game we played this season," Iverson said. "Because we could have thrown in the towel when they were up 14-2. We just kept fighting. That's the attitude of the team we had last year."

Milwaukee, which led 44-43 at the half, was ahead throughout the third quarter, taking its biggest lead of the period at 65-55 on a three-point play by Allen.

Two free throws by Dikembe Mutombo pulled the Sixers within 65-57 entering the fourth quarter.

Notes: Bucks guard Rafer Alston did not play because of a lower back strain. ... Bucks forward Tim Thomas left with a sprained left ankle with 11:12 left in the fourth quarter and did not return. The severity of the injury was not known. ... Philadelphia has won 5 of 6 at the Bradley Center. ... Karl failed to earn his 150th victory with the Bucks. ... Robinson played 38 minutes, giving him 19,988 for his career and moving him into third on the Bucks' career list ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had 19,954.

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Author: 6 ABC - AP