Sixers Win Cliches Playoff Berth

Just when Toni Kukoc is starting to get comfortable, he could be headed back to the bench.

Kukoc had one of his best all-around games since joining Philadelphia as the Sixers beat the Atlanta Hawks 107-86 Wednesday night.

Kukoc had 10 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, hitting Allen Iverson for a couple of brilliant court-length passes. But his seventh straight start could be his last for a while, because George Lynch could return from a knee injury Friday at Boston.

"I've come off the bench probably 70 or 80 percent of my career, so it shouldn't be a problem," Kukoc said.

Iverson had 30 points despite being hobbled by a broken left big toe. Though the Hawks specialize in giving up layups, one pass from Kukoc to Iverson showed that the two may finally be getting in sync.

Late in the third, Kukoc grabbed a defensive rebound and spotted Iverson sprinting toward the other basket. He threw an 80-foot, one-handed baseball pass that hit Iverson perfectly in stride for a layup and foul. Kukoc pumped his fist three times, and Iverson missed the free throw for a 74-61 lead.

"When I see the guy open, I can draw two guys to me and free up some of the other guys," Kukoc said. "It should be an easy shot for them, a layup or a 10-footer."

Even Brown, a former point guard, seems in awe of Kukoc's passing.

"Rick Barry used to tell me what a great passer he was," Brown said. "I said, 'That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You've got three guys open every time you have the ball. What about somebody like me, who nobody guards?"'

The Sixers ended a three-gam losing streak and took sole possession of fourth place in the East ahead of idle Charlotte. That spot would give them homecourt advantage in the playoffs something Brown would rather not discuss.

"Don't ask me about it now," he said. "We have a ways to go."

Kukoc, who won three championships with the Bulls, has some experience in these matters, too.

"Even when I was with a team in Chicago that won so many championships, we never looked that far ahead," Kukoc said. "Actually, every time somebody mentioned it, we'd lose a game. We used to put on the blackboard, 'Fifteen to go.' That's all we knew, that we needed 15 more to win a championship."

The Hawks, playing without injured starter Jim Jackson, have lost four in a row and seven of eight. Rookie Dion Glover led Atlanta with 18 points. Dikembe Mutombo had 12 points, 16 rebounds and a season-high five assists.

"This is good experience for our young guys," said coach Lenny Wilkens, who gave extensive minutes to rookies Glover, Jason Terry and Cal Bowdler. "The teams we're playing have something going, so this is good experience."

After the Sixers squandered a 10-point first-quarter lead, Kukoc and Iverson showed how dangerous they can be in the playoffs. Kukoc dished to Hill for a short jumper that made it 70-61, and Hill scored again on a fastbreak layup before Kukoc made the play of the night.

Moments later, though, it became clear that the Sixers still need to adjust to Kukoc. Loping past the 3-point line, Kukoc shouted to an immobile Iverson, "Move!"

Iverson did, and Kukoc drove to the basket leading to a putback, by Geiger for an 83-66 lead with 11:23 left.

"My teammates are always keeping their heads up," Iverson said. "They're always looking for me."

The Sixers built a 10-point lead in the first quarter, shooting a season-high 70 percent (14-for-20).

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