Sixers Sprint Past Spurs

This is what the Philadelphia 76ers envisioned when they traded for Toni Kukoc.

Allen Iverson scored 25 of his 40 points in the first half and Kukoc added 17 as the Sixers beat the San Antonio Spurs 100-83 Saturday night.

"Toni came off the bench and gave us everything we thought he could give us," Iverson said. "It was big time because it takes the attention off me, stops people from double-teaming me and gets other people on the floor a good look."

Kukoc, acquired from Chicago in a three-team deal last February, has struggled to fit into the Sixers offense. He's averaged just 7.7 points and 20 minutes.

But against the Spurs, Kukoc shot like he did when he was winning three NBA championships with the Bulls. He had 15 in the first half, including three 3-pointers.

"When Allen has got his game, he opens things up," Kukoc said. "I got hot and did what I'm supposed to do. I got the ball and things happened."

Tim Duncan scored 29 points and Derek Anderson added 23 for the Spurs.

The loss snapped San Antonio's five-game winning streak. The Sixers have won nine of 10 to improve the league's best record to 27-9.

"When Kukoc comes out and does what he did, it was a hell of a 1-2 punch," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

Duncan's jumper got the Spurs within 5450 at the start of the third quarter, but the Sixers scored 12 of the next 17 points, including seven straight to take an 11-point lead. San Antonio didn't get closer than seven the rest of the game.

Aaron McKie scored the first eight points for the Sixers in the fourth, while Duncan had 10 straight for the Spurs. By the time McKie and Duncan were finished trading baskets, Philadelphia led 86-72.

The Sixers took their biggest lead, 98-70, on a jumper by Iverson with 2:12 left.

Iverson was unstoppable in the first quarter, scoring on a variety of tough shots. He hit a running jumper, fallaway jumper, a couple 20-footers and several layups.

The Sixers never trailed after Iverson made it 28-27 on a driving layup with 7.8 seconds left in the first.

Iverson finished 17-for-29 and made 6-of-7 free throws. He had five rebounds and four assists.

"He was phenomenal," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "I was looking for times to take out to rest him, but he was doing so well I didn't think about it. He played great."

The Sixers are 10-11 when Iverson scores more than 40 points, including 4-1 this season.

"It's frustrating when he's hitting shots when you're playing good defense," Anderson said about guarding Iverson. "You've got to give him credit. He really had it going."

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