Saturday, March 23, 2002
Iverson may be lost for season
Carter, McGrady also hurt
The Associated Press
BOSTON — Philadelphia overcame the loss of Allen Iverson to beat Boston 96-91, but the 76ers' star was taken for X-rays on his left hand at halftime and may be lost for the rest of the season.
“The kid is playing as good as anyone in the league,” Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said. “You just don't replace him. We've all got to do a great job.”
Eric Snow and Derrick Coleman combined for 21 second-half points.
Speedy Claxton replaced Iverson in the lineup and energized the 76ers. Snow restored a four-point lead with a layup with 1:50 to go before Boston's Paul Pierce hit a free throw, closing the gap to 94-91 with 23 seconds remaining. But Snow finished off the victory with two free throws with 19 seconds left.
Hornets 106, Magic 92
ORLANDO, Fla. — Charlotte took advantage of an early injury to Orlando's Tracy McGrady to win its fifth straight game.
Jamal Mashburn had 29 points and David Wesley added 21, nine in the third quarter when Charlotte put the Magic away. The Hornets stay tied with Indiana for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
McGrady suffered severe back spasms in the second quarter after being sandwiched by Charlotte's Robert Traylor and George Lynch on a drive. McGrady didn't move for several minutes, and emergency medical personnel gingerly lifted him into a stretcher and wheeled him off the court. McGrady was taken to Florida Hospital for an MRI exam and further evaluation.
Nets 108, Bucks 84
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jason Kidd had 17 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds and New Jersey defeated Milwaukee.
Kerry Kittles added 15 of his 21 points during a game-breaking third quarter in which the Nets hit six 3-pointers and outscored the banged-up Bucks 36-14.
Nets tough guy Kenyon Martin, fresh from a meeting with league officials concerning flagrant foul calls against him, had 20 points.
Raptors 94, Cavaliers 80
CLEVELAND — After learning that Vince Carter will be lost for the season, Toronto won for just the second time in 19 games, defeating Cleveland behind 18 points from Morris Peterson
With the Raptors falling out of the playoff hunt, the team announced before the game that Carter will undergo knee surgery. The Raptors then lost backup point guard Chris Childs with a pelvic contusion.
Pacers 104, Heat 94
MIAMI — Jermaine O'Neal scored 21 points and Ron Mercer, playing his longest stint since returning from the injured list, added 17.
Indiana remained tied with Charlotte for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, 3 1/2 games ahead of Miami.
The Pacers have won five of their last six games and play host to the Hornets on Sunday.
Trail Blazers 109, Bulls 93
CHICAGO — Rasheed Wallace made three 3-pointers in a game-turning third quarter, and the surging Trail Blazers beat Chicago.
Wallace finished with 19 points for Portland, which is an NBA-best 17-3 since the All-Star break. Derek Anderson added 16, and Dale Davis 14.
SuperSonics 112, Rockets 82
SEATTLE — Desmond Mason had 22 points and five assists and was one of five players in double figures as Seattle routed the struggling Rockets.
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