Iverson’s 47 helps Sixers down Knicks

Chris Webber added a season-high 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Sixers, who ended a three-game losing streak and continue to hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Nate Robinson had a career-high 34 points for the Knicks, whose current losing streak reached seven games. Eddy Curry had 21 points and nine boards for New York, which blew a double-digit lead and lost for the ninth time in 11 outings.

"It would’ve been better with a win," said Robinson of his night. "I’d rather win. We’ve just got to get better. "

Trailing 71-62 following a Robinson bucket with just over five minutes gone in the second half, the Sixers began to take control of the game. Philadelphia went on a 15-4 run, capped by an Iverson three-pointer, that gave the Sixers the lead for good with 2 1/2 minutes to go until the fourth.

Nearly 1 1/2 minutes later, the Sixers extended to an 81-76 lead following a Webber bucket and went into the fourth ahead 83-80.

In the final quarter, Philadelphia scored the first six points to extend to a nine-point cushion, 89-80. Webber later connected on a basket to make it a 10-point game, 97-87, and the Knicks never got within a single possession the rest of the way.

"We had to will this one. We had to go get it," said Philadelphia head coach Maurice Cheeks. "That’s exactly what we did. The second half was what won us this game. We were a step slow in the first half and our will got us back into this game."

The Sixers ended a six-game losing streak at MSG.

The Knicks led 33-31 after one quarter and extended to a 58-46 advantage with just over two minutes left when Maurice Taylor ended a 14-2 run with a bucket. New York cruised into the break with a 60-53 lead before falling apart in the second half.

New York’s Stephon Marbury suffered a mild left knee strain late in the first quarter and did not return.

Game Notes

New York guard Steve Francis missed his first game with a sprained toe. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Robinson...Philadelphia hit 15 straight free throws in one stretch...This was the 900th career loss for Larry Brown, whose team is a league worst 19-52 this season...Iverson’s point total was a high allowed by New York to one player this season...The Knicks have lost five in a row at home and fell to 13-24 at MSG this season.