Sixers attempt to remain undefeated against Heat

The Sixers have started a new season with two straight wins for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign when they opened with 10 straight victories. That season the Philadelphia made it to the NBA Finals where it fell in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

After a season opening 88-75 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday in front of their home crowd, the Sixers picked up an emotional road win Friday at Orlando. All-Star Allen Iverson hit a floating bank shot with 2.2 seconds on the clock to lift the 76ers over the Magic, 105-103, at TD Waterhouse Centre.

Orlando’s Grant Hill had just knotted the back-and-forth contest with a banker of his own high off the glass on the other end, but left too much time for Philadelphia. Iverson took the inbound pass, worked down to the right baseline and then released a one-handed shot that kissed off the glass and in.

Hill had a chance to even the contest, but his jumper fell short as time expired.

Iverson finished with 39 points and 10 assists, while Kyle Korver erupted for 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting off the bench in the victory for the Sixers. Andre Iguodala and Chris Webber both finished with 11 points in the win.

After tonight’s contest, Philadelphia hits the road for a two-game trip. The Sixers are scheduled to visit Indiana on Tuesday and Toronto on Wednesday.

The Heat bounced back from an embarrassing loss to Chicago, 108-66, in their season opener to pick up their first win of the campaign. On Friday, Shaquille O’Neal poured in 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lift Miami past the New Jersey Nets, 91-85, at AmericanAirlines Arena.

O’Neal finished 10-of-16 from the floor and Dwyane Wade had 17 points and five assists for Miami. Gary Payton added 14 points and five assists in the victory.

Miami, which plays its first road game of the season, was 21-20 as the visitor in 2005-06.

Last season, Miami won all three meetings with the Sixers. The Heat have still lost 10 of their last 12 at Philadelphia.