76ers Get Even by Ousting Pacers

A tearful Allen Iverson was as eager to pass the credit as the basketball.

The NBA’s scoring leader had 33 points, but it took a blocked shot and basket by Dikembe Mutombo and a big rebound and two free throws by Aaron McKie to give the Philadelphia 76ers an 88-85 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Then after a postgame hug from Reggie Miller, Iverson broke down.

“Those were tears of joy,� he said.

“I’m exhausted physically and mentally, because they brought out a lot in Allen Iverson. It’s been rough on me mentally. We could never get past these guys [in the playoffs].�

Philadelphia, which lost to Indiana in the playoffs each of the past two seasons, this time won the first-round Eastern Conference series, 3-1, and advanced to the conference semifinals against the winner of the New York-Toronto series.

“I’m proud to be in the foxhole with these guys,� Iverson said of his teammates. “I always see those same faces. They never give up. They never stop playing.�

A three-point basket by Travis Best gave Indiana an 85-82 lead with just over two minutes to play, but McKie pulled the 76ers within one. Then Mutombo blocked a shot by Derrick McKey and scored on a hook shot with 1:09 remaining.

After an exchange of possessions with no scoring, Miller missed a three-point shot and McKie pulled down the rebound with 5.8 seconds to play. He was immediately fouled and made two free throws. Jalen Rose then missed a three-point shot for Indiana as the game ended.

Miller had 32 points for Indiana.

“I told Allen afterward he has to make them believe they can win it all,� Miller said of the 76ers. ‘This is their first step. I definitely see them coming out of the East. . . . We put them through enough wars, I think they’ve pretty much seen everything.�

Toronto 100, New York 93--Vince Carter threw down a windmill dunk the first time he got the ball at Toronto, setting the tone for an inspired game by the Raptors, who evened the series at two games apiece and forced a deciding fifth game on Friday night.

Carter scored 32 points, his most in seven career playoff games, and former Knick Chris Childs added a career playoff-high 25 on eight-for-11 shooting as Toronto looked nothing like the anxious team that withered in Game 3. The Raptors also won a home playoff game for the first time in franchise history.

“That was the first open drive I had all series, and my eyes felt as big as my face,� Carter said. “That’s the best start any player could have--an easy layup--and I think it helped me settle down.�

The Raptors controlled the offensive boards, played intense defense and broke the game open with a 12-1 run beginning late in the third quarter.

Allan Houston scored 27 and Latrell Sprewell had 24 to lead the Knicks, who got little help from Marcus Camby in his first game in almost a week after a hostage situation involving his mother and two sisters. Camby finished with four points, four rebounds and four fouls in 33 minutes.