Young Allen Iverson 76ers vs the Hawks *34pts 10 asts FULL Highlights 97/98

NBA 1997-1998 3.13.1998 Allen Iverson scored 13 of his season-high 34 points in the decisive third quarter as the Philadelphia 76ers surpassed their win total for all of last season with a 107-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Iverson, who handed out 10 assists, had 17 points by halftime, helping the 76ers to a 52-47 advantage. He scored six points in a 14-3 run to close the third period as Philadelphia extended its lead to 84-64. "I'm so proud we played a great game," 76ers coach Larry Brown said. "Allen (Iverson) had his best game yet, and he's had some good ones. This was our best game in a long time." Tim Thomas contributed half of his 20 points in the third quarter for the Sixers, who snapped a six-game losing streak to the Hawks. Philadelphia (23-39), which has won four of its last five home games, finished last season with the league's fifth-worst record at 22-60. Alan Henderson scored 23 points for Atlanta, which had its four-game winning streak snapped. Steve Smith, the Hawks' leading scorer, was limited to 14 points after averaging 27.5 in two wins over the Sixers this season. "We were terrible tonight," Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens said. "We didn't rebound, we didn't fight for position at times. We weren't there mentally or physically. We can't have another game like this." Theo Ratliff had five blocks and grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds to lead Philadelphia to a huge 55-34 edge on the boards. Journeyman center Benoit Benjamin, signed by the Sixers to a 10-day contract earlier this week, was 0-for-5 from the field but pulled down nine boards off the bench. "In order for the outside game to work, you have to establish the inside game first," Ratliff explained. "Everybody did a great job keeping the ball alive, especially on the offensive and defensive ends. It was a great effort, we were able to dominate." Leading 58-52 early in the third quarter, Iverson buried a three-pointer to spark a 10-2 spurt. Thomas scored the next five points before Joe Smith hit a fast-break dunk to increase the lead to 68-54 with 7:47 remaining. Henderson answered with a pair of free throws and a three-point play to cut the deficit back under double digits. Iverson responded with a driving layup before Christian Laettner, who scored 12 points, came back with a 16-footer to pull Atlanta within 70-61. But the Hawks missed their next 17 field goals, failing to hit one for the next 8:13. Thomas opened the 14-3 run with a slam before Iverson drained a 20-footer. To close the burst, Iverson and Thomas made back-to-back layups before rookie Kebu Stewart sank a free throw for an 84-64 lead. A basket by Mookie Blaylock trimmed the deficit to 91-78 with 7:25 to play, but the Sixers reeled off the next eight points to virtually put the game out of reach. Iverson's layup capped the spurt, building a 99-78 cushion with 5:09 remaining. "He (Iverson) did a great job running the offense, getting to the basket, making things happen for the team," Joe Smith said. "He did a great job on the defensive end as well. It was a well all-around game for him." Joe Smith and Ratliff scored 17 points apiece for Philadelphia, which shot 48 percent (44-of-91) from the field and scored 60 points in the paint to Atlanta's 26. That duo also helped control All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo, who played just 30 minutes battling foul trouble and finished with nine points and four boards.