76ers outlast Grizzlies 117-112
(AP)Updated: 2007-03-03 11:04
PHILADELPHIA - Andre Iguodala and Kyle Korver each scored 27 points and the Philadelphia 76ers tied a season high with their third straight victory, 117-112 in overtime over the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
 Philadelphia 76ers forward Kyle Korver celebrates the teams' 117-112 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in an NBA basketball game Friday, March 2, 2007, in Philadelphia. [AP]  |
In a matchup of teams vying for more pingpong balls in the draft lottery, the Grizzlies improved their chances.
Pau Gasol had 31 points and 13 rebounds and Mike Miller scored 27 for Memphis, which has the worst record in the NBA (15-45) after making the playoffs three straight years.
The Sixers (21-38) are third-worst ahead of Boston. The team that finishes last isn't guaranteed the first pick in June's draft. However, that team will have the best chance to win the lottery.
Coming off an impressive victory over Phoenix that prevented the Suns from becoming the first team in league history to sweep its road games against the opposite conference, the Sixers almost reverted back to their losing ways.
They committed 12 turnovers and trailed by three at halftime, despite shooting nearly 60 percent.
The Grizzlies went on a 9-2 run to start the fourth quarter, but Korver ended it with a 3-pointer and the teams stayed close the rest of the way.
Iguodala's driving layup put the Sixers ahead 103-100 in the final minute of regulation, but Mike Miller nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to tie it with 4.9 seconds left. Iguodala's fallaway shot missed as the buzzer sounded, sending it to overtime.
Korver scored the first points in the extra session on a baseline jumper and made a pair of free throws to give the Sixers a 107-105 lead. Andre Miller followed with a steal and layup to extend the lead to 109-105, and Smith's jumper iced it.
The Sixers hadn't won three in a row since opening the season 3-0. Allen Iverson and Chris Webber were playing here back then, more fans were coming out and there was reason for some hope.
On a night when young fans received Andre Miller replica jerseys, the point guard dazzled with several nifty passes. Miller found Samuel Dalembert for an alley-oop pass on an inbounds from behind the basket as the Sixers took their biggest lead to that point, 34-28, in the second quarter.
The Grizzlies outscored Philadelphia 20-11 the rest of the quarter to take a 48-45 lead at halftime.
Notes: Sixers rookie F Rodney Carney sat out his second straight game with a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his right shoulder. ... The Sixers are 16-26 since Iverson played his last game with Philadelphia. ... Memphis G Chucky Atkins didn't play because of a sprained right ankle. ... The teams split the season series.
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