Iverson leads 76ers into Finals
(7)
Updated: 2001-06-04 11:23

iverson win

The 76ers won the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals four games to three and advanced to the finals the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers, who will host game one on Wednesday.

"It means everything," Iverson said of his first NBA Finals. "I worked hard all season. We became a team from day one. I just feel good about this. Without my teammates, my coaches, these fans, none of this would be possible. I'm just glad to share it with them."

Iverson, the league's Most Valuable Player and leading scorer, shot 17-of-33 from the floor. Congolese center Dikembe Mutombo added 23 points and 19 rebounds to reach his first NBA final after years of frustration in Denver and Atlanta.

"I don't know how I can express myself," Mutombo said. "God gave his blessing. I did this one for my wife and kids."

The 76ers denied the Bucks their first finals trip since 1974. Ray Allen returned from a right knee injury in the third quarter to lead Milwaukee with 26 points. Glenn Robinson added 24 points and Sam Cassell had 20.

Philadelphia coach Larry Brown, the NBA's Coach of the Year, reached his first NBA Finals in 18 NBA seasons after 788 games without a finals berth.

"It doesn't get much better than this," Brown said amid jubilation as players rejoiced and fans celebrated.

The 76ers had not reached the league finals since 1983, when Julius Erving and Moses Malone led Philadelphia to a title after dispatching the Bucks in the semi-finals. Both 1983 stars were in attendance in Philadelphia Sunday.

Both the 76ers and Lakers finished the regular season 56-26 and they split two regular-season meetings. The Lakers were awarded a home-court edge by virtue of a superior season mark against the opposing conference.

Had the 76ers beaten league doormat Chicago on their home court in their final regular season game, they would have had a better record than the Lakers and the home-court edge now. But Brown rested his weary starters and the Bulls won 92-86.

Now come the Lakers, who are trying to become the first team in NBA history to sweep through the playoffs to a title.

Led by dominating center Shaquille O'Neal and playmaker Kobe Bryant, the Lakers are guided by Phil Jackson, coach of eight NBA champion teams in 11 years and a man Brown once rejected for an assistant's job at New Jersey.

"They're phenomenal. It's an amazing test," Brown said. "I'm just proud to be in a final with a guy like Phil. It's going to be an amazing test."

Iverson, who also contributed seven assists and six rebounds, sparked an 11-2 run that stretched the 76ers' lead to 87-73 early in the fourth quarter and the Bucks never recovered.

Iverson's fragile physical state -- including hip socket, tailbone and wrist aches among others -- is a concern after grueling seven-game matchups with Toronto and Milwaukee.

But the heart that made the guard the NBA's scoring champion and Most Valuable Player should propel him and the 76ers against the heavily favored Lakers.

"I cant believe him," Mutombo said. "He just fought through. He just has a strong heart."

So does Eric Snow, who played despite a broken ankle.

"If we controled the tempo, it's easy for me to play," he said. "We knew if we came out and played hard we would win."

The 76ers fell behind by nine points early in the second quarter, but rallied with a 23-6 run and stretched the edge as large as 48-38 before settling for a 56-50 half-time lead.