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By Ashley McGeachy Fox<br>
Inquirer Staff Writer<br>
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Allen Iverson rarely misses free throws. Last night, he missed three in the final 15 seconds of overtime, and it nearly cost the 76ers a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.<br>
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Luckily for Iverson and the Sixers, Derrick Coleman hit two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining to seal a 107-104 victory at the First Union Center.<br>
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Iverson missed four of six free throws in overtime and 22 of 33 field-goal tries overall. But he did score 32 points and match a career high with nine steals. He also had the benefit of a bigger perspective provided by life.<br>
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"I'm happy," he said afterward. "I found out my wife [Tawanna] is pregnant last night, and we won the game. It can't get no better than today."<br>
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Iverson was saved when, on the Lakers' final possession, Rick Fox bobbled a beautiful pass from Robert Horry. Maybe Fox was stunned at being so open, apparently headed for an uncontested layup. Regardless, the ball sailed beyond the baseline, and on the ensuing inbounds play, Coleman was fouled.<br>
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With that, the Sixers got the win.<br>
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Despite being booed early, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant was fantastic, scoring 44 points. Bryant, who dominated the second half, also collected 10 assists and four rebounds. He went 10 for 10 from the free-throw line.<br>
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Before fouling out with more than four minutes to go in overtime, Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal collected 26 points and 14 rebounds, but he committed seven turnovers.<br>
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For the Sixers, Coleman played a strong 27 minutes, many of them guarding the significantly larger O'Neal. Looking 10 years younger than his age of 35, showing a spring in his step, Coleman shot 5 for 10 from the floor and 8 for 9 from the line for 18 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds.<br>
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Newcomer Kenny Thomas, acquired in a trade with Houston on Wednesday, made 4 of 9 shots and scored 11 points. Keith Van Horn scored 20 points, and Aaron McKie added 14.<br>
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Then there was Iverson, who said that he felt dizzy and had numbness in his fingers throughout the game. He missed seven of his first eight shots. He drove at O'Neal all night, picked Bryant's pocket a couple of times, and found his teammates for four assists.<br>
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About those late misses from the free-throw line?<br>
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"I'll put him on the line late any time," Sixers coach Larry Brown said, noting that playing Iverson 48 of 53 minutes was too much. "He made a great steal at the end, made a jumper in overtime. I think he was just exhausted."<br>
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Last night's was not a playoff matchup, although it certainly felt like it. Dueling superstars in Iverson and Bryant. An undersized center, Coleman, trying anything to contain the biggest man in the game, O'Neal.<br>
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The score was tied at 94 after regulation. In overtime, Iverson hit a huge three-pointer to give the Sixers a 99-97 lead. Then, after the Lakers answered, the Sixers picked up their defense. They stopped Los Angeles on its next three possessions while capitalizing on their own scoring opportunities.<br>
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With 28.7 seconds left in overtime, the Sixers held a 104-99 lead. The fans were on their feet. Despite the Lakers' stunning fall to the Pacific Division cellar, the Sixers' faithful wanted this one badly.<br>
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They got it.<br>
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Bryant, however, made it interesting. He made a three-pointer with 18.7 seconds left, then fouled Iverson, who made one of two free throws with 15.5 seconds left, giving the Sixers a 105-102 lead.<br>
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The Lakers called a time-out. The ensuing play went to Bryant, who was covered by Iverson. Bryant dunked with 8.4 seconds remaining to make it a 105-104 game.<br>
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Iverson was fouled again with 6.2 seconds left and missed both free throws, giving the ball to the Lakers with 5.3 seconds to go. That set up Fox's fumble. And with that, the win was the Sixers'.<br>
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As competitive and fierce as the game was, there was a light moment in the third quarter. With the Sixers having tied the score at 56 with a frenetic 6-0 run, Bryant found O'Neal on a breakaway. Iverson, the only Sixer back, grabbed O'Neal from behind and piggy-backed him on the play. Although Iverson was called for the foul, the hulking O'Neal hardly noticed.<br>
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Before O'Neal made the ensuing free throw to give the Lakers a 59-56 lead, he and Iverson laughed about the play, while Bryant seemed to say to Iverson: "What were you thinking?"<br>
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Despite the Lakers' problems this season, there was a playoff-type atmosphere in and around the First Union Center. Scalpers peddled tickets on the Interstate 76 off-ramp; others combed the parking lot for takers.<br>
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And the Sixers approached the game as if they were playing the Lakers team that raced to three consecutive NBA titles and could seemingly win at will.<br>
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But those Lakers have been missing this season. After a thorough beating by New Jersey on Thursday night, they brought a 10-17 record into Philadelphia.<br>
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O'Neal said that he does not look at the standings.<br>
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"But I know we're at the bottom." he said before tip-off. "That's a disgrace for me to even talk about the last spot."<br>
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After last night's game, the Lakers were still there. The Sixers were 18-9 and back atop the Atlantic Division.<br>
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