NBA Greatest Duels: Allen Iverson vs. Tracy McGrady (2004)

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Allen Iverson regained his scoring touch in time to save the Philadelphia 76ers.

Still struggling with his shooting following a knee injury, Iverson scored 26 points -- his most in more than a month -- in Philadelphia's 87-82 victory over Orlando on Monday night.

Iverson has only been back a week after sitting out 10 games because of a bruised right knee. But he has a while to go to regain his All-Star form.

"My rhythm is way off. I'm struggling," said Iverson, shooting 37 percent in five games since returning. "It's frustrating that it's taking so long for my game to come back. But by being in the league eight years, I've been through struggles and I know how to play while struggling."

Philadelphia took control midway through the third quarter with 11 straight points to go up 68-60. Orlando's Keith Bogans stopped the run with a jumper despite being knocked down, but Iverson seized the momentum back with his lone 3-pointer of the night.

Iverson shot 9-for-29, 1-for-4 on 3-pointers, with seven assists and six turnovers. The last time he topped 20 points was Dec. 5, when he scored 35 in a victory in Miami.

The 76ers are 3-2 since Iverson returned.

"The games we lose, it hurts worse," Iverson said. "But in the games that we win, I don't think about it."

Samuel Dalembert set career highs with 15 points and 11 rebounds. He fouled out late in the game, but only after his block of Tracy McGrady's driving dunk with 2:54 remaining blunted Orlando's comeback.

Dalembert, who blocked three shots, started because Derrick Coleman missed his 12th game of the season with a left knee sprain.

"Samuel was great in terms of defending the rim," 76ers coach Randy Ayers said.

Glenn Robinson added 19 points, and Kenny Thomas and Eric Snow each added 13. Thomas also tied his season high with 16 rebounds.

The 76ers missed 14 of 17 shots in the fourth quarter, including their last 10, with their final field goal coming on Dalembert's jumper with 7:32 remaining. But they made eight of 10 late free throws to hold off the Magic.

Orlando has lost seven of eight and missed a chance to move into a tie with Atlanta for the league's worst record.

McGrady scored 32 points for Orlando, including 10 of the Magic's 16 in the fourth quarter. He also had 10 rebounds.

Less than 17 seconds remained when Orlando closed within a possession on McGrady's layup. But Snow hit two free throws and McGrady missed a 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds to go.

McGrady missed all nine of his 3-point tries, shooting 13-for-30.

"Shots were going in and out, good shots," McGrady said. "I'd take those shots any game. It just wasn't our night on the offensive end."

Bogans added 20 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 6-of-6 from the line. He opened Orlando's scoring with a 3-pointer, but the Magic shot 1-for-17 beyond the arc after that.

"I guess I had an 'on' game tonight," said Bogans, 2-for-5 on 3-pointers. "I made shots, but I can't speak for anybody else."

Orlando shot 36 percent -- 26.2 percent after halftime.

The 76ers jumped out to an early 11-point lead by making 11 of their first 20 shots -- despite six misses from Iverson. Dalembert made all four of his shots in the first quarter while grabbing seven rebounds.

Game notes
Philadelphia got no scoring from its bench until Greg Buckner's free throw with 5.7 seconds left to play ... NBA commissioner David Stern attended the game. Stern is in Florida for a sporting goods show in Orlando and the league's marketing meetings in Boca Raton. ... Philadelphia is 14-4 when holding opponents 86 points or less. ... During a second-quarter break in the action, McGrady amazed the crowd with a trick shot. He tossed up a rainbow from behind the backboard that bounced off the top of the glass before falling through the hoop.

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