The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - Allen Iverson scored 35 points and sank the winning jumper with 47 seconds left, lifting the Philadelphia 76ers to an 83-82 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.

Iverson, who scored 85 points his previous two games, took the pass from Eric Snow and dribbled down to the baseline where he made a fadeaway with Kirk Hinrich's hand right in his face.

The Bulls had one last chance with 1.6 seconds left, but Linton Johnson's inbounds pass, intended for Hinrich, knocked off the backboard instead, making Scott Skiles a loser for the first time as Bulls coach. Skiles won his Bulls' debut.

Jamal Crawford led the Bulls with 22 points, Eddie Curry had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Hinrich had 14 points.

Hinrich and Iverson matched each one quick step for another, with the tattooed veteran often frustrating the rookie out of Kansas.

Iverson led the Sixers back from a halftime deficit with a 14-point third quarter, hitting a couple of jumpers over a flailing Hinrich. Hinrich was whistled for two fouls on Iverson, finally throwing his hands in the air and complaining to the Bulls' assistants.

Hinrich eventually settled down against Iverson in the fourth.

The Bulls wiped out the Sixers' five-point lead with 3-pointers by Hinrich and Crawford. Hinrich would sink another 3-pointer later in the quarter and finished 5 for 9 from the floor.

Hinrich had a nice dish to Curry near the basket for a layup and an 82-79 lead with 2:06 left.

Aaron McKie hit a baseline jumper, making it 82-81 before Iverson went on to win it.

Samuel Dalembert scored 13 points and Derrick Coleman, playing with a strained left knee, had 11 rebounds.

The Sixers trailed by 11 early in the third when Iverson got going.

He hit a 16-footer from the left wing, added a finger-roll layup and converted a three-point play, tying the score at 53.

The Bulls regained a three-point lead, but Curry was called for a clear-path foul on Iverson when he yanked at his right shoulder. Iverson grimaced, but sank the free throw.

Again Chicago rallied and again Iverson answered, stealing a pass and scoring a fastbreak layup for a 62-60 at the end of the third.

CAVALIERS: Backup center DeSagana Diop had knee surgery Thursday and is expected to be out four to six weeks. The 7-footer tore cartilage in his right knee during a loss last week against Memphis.

Diop, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2001 draft, is averaging 2.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 17 minutes. He has made three starts after making just one last season.

NETS: New York Islanders owner Charles Wang withdrew his $265 million offer to buy the NBA's New Jersey Nets. Islanders spokesman Chris Botta said the proposal was taken off the table because a deal could not be reached in a timely manner. The sale process was held up by long negotiations on how to split up YankeeNets, the holding group that owns the team.