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.
We take this back to 2002 when the Sixers were looking to keep their season alive following their NBA Finals appearance in 2001. They faced elimination in Game 4 at home down 2-1 in the best of 5 series against the rival Boston Celtics and they needed Allen Iverson to step up his game to another level. With the season on the line, the question was whether the Sixers would step up and get the job done. Iverson provided The Answer.
May 1, 2002
The Celtics were playing excellent basketball. Paul Pierce was at another level and Antoine Walker was playing his role as the number 2 guy at an excellent level. It was a lot to overcome, but Philadelphia would not back down in this one. Even when the Celtics took a 65-58 lead in the fourth quarter. That is when Iverson made his move.
The 6-foot guard from Georgetown scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, including their final eight points overall, and they rallied to win it 83-81. Iverson tied the game at 77, then Aaron McKie had a steal which led to another Iverson bucket for the lead, and after Rodney Rogers tied it, Iverson gave the Sixers the lead for good. He finished with 28 points and five rebounds and Derrick Coleman added 14 and nine rebounds.
The Sixers would head back to Boston for a winner take all Game 5, but Pierce had 46 points for Boston and Walker added 26 as the Celtics won it easily 120-87. It was a disappointing ending to the season for the defending Eastern Conference champions as they could not repeat their success. [lawrence-related id=30286,30273,30265]