Iverson keeps firing to beat Bucks

Iverson has been in the wars throughout the play-offs

Philadelphia 76ers 93-85 Milwaukee Bucks
(Sixers lead best-of-seven series 1-0)

Allen Iverson bounced back from a poor start to claim a game-high 34 points as the Philadelphia 76ers held off the Milwaukee Bucks in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday.

Iverson, the NBA's Most Valuable Player, missed his first nine shots. But, like the proven scorer he is, Iverson continued to shoot and eventually found his range.

"I've been looking for my shots all season," said Iverson. "That's what my teammates expect me to do, keep on playing."

Everybody gave us something - that's really letting me know more and more that we are a team

  Allen Iverson

He got plenty of help from his team-mates as Aaron McKie, winner of the league's Sixth Man award, scored 23 with five rebounds and five assists.

Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 18 rebounds and scored 15 points and Tyrone Hill added 12 rebounds as the Sixers out-rebounded the Bucks 52-43.

"We had Aaron McKie step up, Eric Snow (six points, six assists, four rebounds), Dikembe Mutombo, Jumaine Jones again (eight points, five rebounds)," said Iverson.

"Everybody gave us something. That's really letting me know more and more that we are a team."

Milwaukee lost the second quarter 32-16, as Iverson equalled the Bucks' total on his own.

In the final quarter, he missed six of his first seven shots as a 16-point lead shrank to 85-83, but the fleet-footed guard hit a vital three-pointer with 1:10 remaining in the game.

Ray Allen scored 31 and Sam Cassell 20 for Milwaukee but Glenn Robinson, the third member of the "Big Three", had an off night and finished with only 15 points on 7-for-22 shooting.

He can miss 10 and make the next 10 - we want him to stay aggressive, that's why he's the MVP

  Aaron McKie

With the game in its final seconds, Cassell elbowed Iverson in the eye, drawing a flagrant foul call.

Despite this blow, and his other assorted injuries, Iverson played all 48 minutes of the game, making 13-of-35 shots and handing out six assists.

"It's a team game," said Iverson's team-mate McKie. "Allen is going to have nights when he comes out and he's missing.

"But that's his game. He can miss 10 and make the next 10. We want him to stay aggressive. That's why he's the MVP."

Milwaukee coach George Karl had said Mutombo's presence in the middle would not matter too much to his jump-shooting team. The giant center from Zaire admitted this had motivated him.

"Today I was there and I let them know if they're going to win, they better beat me," said Mutombo, who had four blocked shots.

Game Two of the best-of-seven series is on Thursday in Philadelphia.