With the NBA in an indefinite hiatus due to COVID-19, we continue our day-by-day look back at the history of the Philadelphia 76ers. We continue down our path into Sixers history every day as we look to fill the void left by the absence of basketball.
This edition takes us back to the 2003 NBA Playoffs when the 3 seed Sixers headed into the playoffs to host the New Orleans Hornets led by the talented backcourt of Baron Davis and David Wesley as well as Jamal Mashburn. This would be no easy task for the Sixers at home. Of course, when you have Allen Iverson, he makes everything look easy.
April 20, 2003
The First Union Center–one of its many names–was rocking on this night to begin the playoffs. The Sixers had just finished up a 48-34 regular season and they were looking to re-capture the form that took them to the NBA Finals just two years prior. Iverson made sure they got off on the right foot to begin the series.
The 6-foot guard from Georgetown was in a zone. He was locked into a place only the greats go and it was like that all game long. Iverson dropped a Sixers franchise playoff record 55 points on 21-for-32 shooting, 3-for-5 from deep, and 10-for-11 from the foul line while also dishing out eight assists. It was an incredible performance from a special player.
Of course, he played to the crowd and he gave love to them afterward:
When I’m out there on the basketball court in front of 20,000 people, and I’m making shots and they’re into it and jumping up and cheering, that’s what I get the goose bumps from. Because I know when these people leave this arena, that might be something they’ll cherish for the rest of their life.
The Sixers would then go on to win the series in six games as Iverson continued his scoring rampage throughout the series. [lawrence-related id=29660,29637,29648]