Magic host Iverson-less Sixers

The Sixers will be without All-Star guard Allen Iverson, who has asked to be traded. Iverson, who was originally selected out of Georgetown by Philadelphia with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft, has spent his entire career in Philadelphia and led the team to the 2000-01 NBA Finals.

Philadelphia played without Iverson on Friday, as Gilbert Arenas dropped in a game-high 32 points to lead Washington past short-handed Philadelphia, 113-98, at the Wachovia Center.

Chris Webber had 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the woeful Sixers, who dropped their sixth straight game and lost for the 13th time in 15 games overall. Kyle Korver chipped in 20 points off the bench, while Andre Iguodala had 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Philadelphia is a dismal 2-9 on the road this season. The Sixers return home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday and the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

The Southeast Division-leading Magic try to put the brakes on a two-game losing streak. On Friday, Chauncey Billups scored 31 points, shooting a blistering 11-of-16 from the field, to lead the Detroit Pistons over the Magic 87-83, in a battle of the two best teams in the Eastern Conference at TD Waterhouse Centre.

Dwight Howard celebrated his 21st birthday by scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the loss to the Pistons for Orlando, which has dropped three of its last four games overall. Grant Hill added 12 points for the Magic, who had a six-game home winning streak halted.

Orlando is 7-2 at home this season. It will host the Phoenix Suns on Monday and the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday in the finale of the current homestand.

This is the second meeting of the season between the squads. On November 3rd, Iverson hit a floating bank shot with 2.2 seconds on the clock to lift the 76ers over the Orlando Magic, 105-103, at TD Waterhouse Centre.

Philadelphia has won two of its last three at Orlando. These teams have split the last six contests in this series.