Iverson’s 55 Are the Buzz of Openers

PHILADELPHIA —  Of all the prolific offensive performances in the opening games of this year’s NBA playoffs, Allen Iverson’s was the best.

Not only that, it was one of the greatest in NBA playoff history

Iverson scored 55 points Sunday, making 21 of 32 shots and eclipsing his previous playoffhigh of 54 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the New Orleans Hornets, 98-90.

Iverson scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to help the 76ers hang onto the lead throughout the final 12 minutes of a closely contested, physical game.

Iverson joined Michael Jordan, Rick Barry, Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players to score 55 points or more in a playoff game. Jordan holds the NBA record of 63 and Iverson’s 55 are the fourth-highest total.

Only two days into the postseason, there already had been a 46-point performance by Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and a 43-point effort by Orlando’s Tracy McGrady.

Iverson outdid them bymaking nearly everything he attempted with the exception of a stretch of five consecutive misses during the third quarter.

“I caught a rhythm. The basket looked like an ocean,” Iverson said.

With Philadelphia clinging to a two-point lead, Iverson came off a pick from Keith Van Horn and made a three-point basket to make it 89-84. On Philadelphia’s next possession, he dribble-faked Stacey Augmon off-balance, stepped back and made another three-pointer to reach 51 points and give the 76ers a 92-84 lead with three minutes left.

After the Hornets pulled to within 94-90, Iverson used his lightning speed to drive around George Lynch for a layup that gave him his final points with 37.3 seconds left.

Iverson reached 50 points for the third time in 46 career playoff games. It was his ninth game with at least 40 points.

He reached 30 points only 3 1/2 minutes into the third quarter, but missed his next five shots while defended by Augmon. He then made his next five shots, including a three-pointer that gave the 76ers a 70-68 lead entering the fourth quarter.

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Filling It Up

Allen Iverson’s 55-point performance on Sunday was the fourth-highest total in NBA playoff history:

*--* 63 MICHAEL JORDAN Chicago at Boston (2 OT), 1986 61 ELGIN BAYLOR Lakers at Boston, 1962 56 CHARLES BARKLEY Phoenix at Golden State, 1994 56 MICHAEL JORDAN Chicago at Miami, 1992 56 WILT CHAMBERLAIN Philadelphia vs. Syracuse, 1962 55 ALLEN IVERSON Philadelphia vs. New Orleans, 2003 55 MICHAEL JORDAN Chicago vs. Washington, 1997 55 MICHAEL JORDAN Chicago vs. Phoenix, 1993 55 MICHAEL JORDAN Chicago vs. Cleveland, 1988 55 RICK BARRY San Fran. vs. Philadelphia, 1967

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