Iverson erupts for 60 points as Sixers down Magic

Iverson went 17-of-36 from the field and set career-highs in free throws made and taken, going 24-of-27 from the charity stripe for Philadelphia, which has won two straight and four of six overall.

"I haven’t had a chance to soak it all in yet," said Iverson. "Probably when I look at the highlights, watch TV, I’ll probably really get the full effect of it. But it feels good right now, just knowing that we won the basketball game. That’s the most important thing. I score a career high and we win the game. That’s how you draw it up. That’s how you draw it up in your dreams. As long as you get the win, that’s the most important thing."

The NBA’s leading scorer, Iverson reached his season average of 29 points by halftime and had 40 after three quarters. He also had six assists, five steals and four rebounds against just three turnovers.

"That was a spectacular performance," said Philadelphia head coach Jim O’Brien. "I’m sure that everyone that witnessed that game is happy to have been a part of Allen Iverson’s record breaking performance."

Iverson has now scored 50 or more points three times this season and nine times in his career. His previous career-high was 58 points scored against Houston on January 15, 2002.

The Sixers’ franchise record is held by Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 68 points on December 16, 1967 against Chicago. Chamberlain had 100 points with the Philadelphia Warriors on March 2, 1962, but that team later moved to Oakland is now known as the Golden State Warriors.

Corliss Williamson had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Kyle Korver had 12 points and Marc Jackson chipped in 11 for the Sixers.

Leading Orlando, which has lost four of five, was Steve Francis, who had 16 points in the first half before finishing with 32.

Grant Hill netted 16, Dwight Howard and Pat Garrity added 11 each and Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson had 10 points apiece in the loss.

Iverson started the game in impressive fashion hitting 6-of-12 field goal attempts en route to 17 points as Philadelphia finished the first quarter on a 13-4 run en route to a 31-22 advantage after 12 minutes.

"We tried to trap him," said Orlando head coach Johnny Davis. "We did a little bit of everything. We put different guys on him, (and) we stepped up on him. It was just one of those nights from a super-star performer."

The Sixers used an 11-0 burst in the second quarter to extend their lead to 48-33 with 5:48 to go before halftime. Philadelphia’s advantage would balloon to 58-38 before the teams went into the locker room with the Sixers ahead, 62-44.

Those 62 first-half points represent a season-high for Philadelphia, which hit 25-of-48 field goal attempts (52.1 percent) in the first 24 minutes.

The Sixers continued their torrid scoring pace after intermission and led by 25 less than halfway through the third frame, which ended with Orlando on a 16-5 run but Philadelphia still leading, 85-71.

Orlando used a 9-0 run in the fourth to cut the deficit to single digits, but could not complete the comeback.

Iverson surpassed his previous career-high of 58 points with a successful free throw with 1:07 on the clock. The second swished free throw gave Iverson 60 points as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.