Sonics host Iverson-less Sixers

(Basketball News) - The Philadelphia 76ers begin an important three-game road trip when they visit the Seattle SuperSonics tonight at KeyArena.

All-Star guard Allen Iverson is sidelined with a sprain and contusion of the right foot and is expected to miss the entire swing for Philadelphia. The Georgetown product, who was injured in last Sunday’s 94-91 victory at Memphis, leads the team in scoring (33.2 ppg) and assists (7.4 apg). He has missed five games this season.

The Sixers will try and bounce back from a tough loss. On Tuesday, Chris Bosh poured in a game-high 31 points as the Toronto Raptors used a brilliant fourth quarter to beat a short-handed Philadelphia club, 111-97, at the Wachovia Center.

John Salmons recorded a career-high 23 points in the loss to Toronto for Philadelphia, which has lost four of its last five games overall and played on Tuesday without Iverson. Chris Webber also scored 23 and pulled down 11 rebounds, while Andre Iguodala ended with 19 points and Matt Barnes scored 14 for in defeat for the 76ers.

Philadelphia, which will visit the Clippers on Friday and Golden State on Sunday, is just 12-18 on the road this season. The 76ers have won three of their last five as the visitor.

The disappointing SuperSonics attempt to get back on the winning track this evening. On Tuesday, Raja Bell scored 25 points to lead the Phoenix Suns over Seattle, 129-120, at KeyArena.

Ray Allen finished with 33 points in the loss to Phoenix for the SuperSonics, who had a two-game winning streak halted. Rashard Lewis scored 22, while Luke Ridnour contributed 19 points and 13 assists and Damien Wilkins netted 17 in defeat.

Seattle is 15-17 at home this season. The SuperSonics have dropped three of their last five as the host.

This is the second and final meeting of the season between the squads. On January 9th, Iverson netted 41 to lead Philadelphia to a 107-98 win over the SuperSonics at the Wachovia Center.

Philadelphia has won two straight and three of the last four games in this series. The 76ers have won four straight and five of their last six at Seattle.