Spurs Sink Sixers 100-88

March 1, 1998 / 12:00 AM EST / CBS/AP

Avery Johnson scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half as the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit for a 100-88 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.

Johnson and Tim Duncan, who had 27 points and 17 rebounds, helped make up for the limited playing time of David Robinson. The All-Star center missed the previous six games with a right knee injury and played just 24 minutes against the Sixers, finishing with 17 points and had eight rebounds.

Philadelphia was led by Derrick Coleman with 35 points and Allen Iverson with 19. The Sixers led 53-43 at the half and were up 61-56 with 6:27 left in the third period when Iverson left the game after being hit with an inadvertent elbow by Johnson.

Johnson then made two baskets and two free throws and assisted on two more baskets as the Spurs inched back into the game. Philadelphia led 70-69 to open the fourth, but was outscored 31-18 in the fourth against the deeper Spurs.

Reserve Jaren Jackson scored 10 points in the decisive fourth as San Antonio took the lead midway through the period and never trailed again.

Coleman scored 23 points in the first half and 15 in the opening quarter, when Philadelphia led 33-19 with 1:24 left. San Antonio cut the gap to nine by the end of the quarter, but could get no closer than seven the rest of the half.

NOTES: Spurs reserve Willie Burton, signed to a 10-day contract on Tuesday, had his best game in a Sixers uniform: 53 points vs. Miami on Dec. 13, 1994. ... Since his return to the Spurs' starting lineup on Feb. 17 vs. Detroit, guard Vinny Del Negro has scored in double figures in five of six games and is averaging 14.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 37 minutes coming into Saturday's game. He scored a season-high 23 points in 38 minutes vs. Minnesota on Tuesday. ... When Brian Shaw started for the Sixers in place of the injured Aaron McKie in Friday's victory over Denver, he became the 14th different player to start a game for Philly this season. The Sixers have used 15 different starting lineups. ... Spurs coach Gregg Popovich received his first NBA job from current 76ers coach Larry Brown. Popovich was hired as an assistant under Brown with San Antonio in 1988, and the duo worked together with the Spurs from 1988-92.