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 one takes things back to 2003 when the Sixers were set to take on the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 looking to even the series at 2 before things shifted back to The Palace. Detroit would welcome Chauncey Billups back to the lineup despite his sore left ankle, but he would be ineffective and Allen Iverson and company would take advantage of that to the fullest.
May 11, 2003
Detroit had won the first two games easily at home, but Iverson threw the Sixers on his back in Game 3 to get Philadelphia on the board. With a chance to tie the series at 2 on the line, Iverson would deliver another huge performance along with a stingy defensive effort, to get the job done.
The Answer had 36 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, and five steals to lead the Sixers to a 95-82 win at home. Detroit only had two players score in double-figures, Richard Hamilton and Chucky Atkins, while the Sixers had four other players score in double-figures to help Iverson.
Iverson’s performance had Pistons coach Rick Carlisle scratching his head as he told reporters postgame:
That’s what makes their team so hard to play; you have to deal with him and all the chain reactions he causes out there. Obviously, we’re going to have to do a better job.
Detroit would respond by winning the next two–with some help from Derrick Coleman in Game 5–to eliminate Philadelphia, but not without a fight from Iverson and the rest of the team. The Pistons were in the beginnings of six consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Finals while Philadelphia was trying to find the right pieces around their superstar. [lawrence-related id=30812,30801,30790]