Webber steals one for Philadelphia in 3-OT

Philadelphia, PA (Basketball News) - Chris Webber had 31 points, 13 rebounds and came up with a huge steal in the closing seconds of triple-overtime, as the Philadelphia 76ers outlasted the Boston Celtics, 125-124, at the Wachovia Center.

Allen Iverson led the way with 33 points and 10 assists for Philadelphia, which forced the second extra session following a Kyle Korver desperation three-pointer at the buzzer. Samuel Dalembert contributed 20 points, 11 boards and seven blocked shots for the Sixers, who won for the second time in three games.

Ricky Davis poured in 33 points and dished out nine assists for Boston, which suffered its fourth defeat in five contests. Mark Blount added 27 points and 12 boards, but turned the ball over seven times, including a devastating one near the end of the game.

Only seven points were scored between the two teams in the third OT and Webber’s two free throws with 1:22 remaining represented the final points.

Paul Pierce, who finished with 18 points and 10 assists for Boston, then committed one of his seven turnovers. However, Webber missed a jumper at the other end. Davis could have given Boston the lead, but he missed a shot.

Korver then misfired on a shot and Blount grabbed the rebound with 12 seconds left, but Webber sneaked from behind to knock the ball away. The Celtics wasted 10 seconds before fouling Iverson, who missed his two free throws, the second one intentionally because the Celtics were left without a timeout. Delonte West couldn’t get off a desperation shot before the buzzer.

Boston wasted a 16-point lead, including a 12-point cushion in the fourth quarter. Iverson missed a potential winning jumper at the end of regulation with the game tied at 101.

Davis had a shot to give Boston the win in the first OT, but he missed a shot and the Sixers failed to get off a shot before the end with the game even at 109.

Two free throws by Brian Scalabrine extended Boston to a 121-118 lead with 6.5 seconds left in the second OT, but Korver drilled a long three-pointer from the right side to send the game to a third extra session.

Game Notes

Andre Iguodala had 14 points and nine boards for the Sixers, while teammates Korver and John Salmons had 12 and 11, respectively...West scored 17 and Kendrick Perkins finished with 10 points and 11 boards for Boston...The Celtics had 26 turnovers to 20 for Philadelphia...The Celtics won the first meeting, 110-103, in Boston on November 30.