LOS ANGELES, 22 December 2004 — High-scoring Allen Iverson put on his second one-man show in as many games but the Utah Jazz left the Philadelphia 76ers’ superstar singing the blues yesterday.

Mehmet Okur grabbed an offensive rebound and made two free throws with 4.5 seconds left, lifting the visiting Jazz past the 76ers, 103- 101, despite the heroic 51-point effort by Iverson.

Iverson exploded for an-NBA season-high 54 points in Saturday night’s victory over Milwaukee. In his latest outburst, the three-time scoring champion made 18-of-31 floor shots, including four of six 3-pointers, along with 11-of-17 free throws before committing the crucial foul on Okur.

“I had a hot hand, and Coach (Jim O’Brien) called my number,” Iverson said after reaching the 50-point plateau for the seventh time in his career. “I’m getting into the rhythm I’m accustomed to being in. It’s a good feeling, hopefully, I won’t have to score 50 points for us to win ballgames. But if I have to do it, at least I know it’s there.”

Iverson became the seventh player in league history to post back- to-back 50-point games and the first since Antawn Jamison turned the trick in 1998 with the Golden State Warriors. Still, the latest loss left him blue.

Carlos Boozer had 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Okur collected 20 and 10 for Utah, which snapped a seven-game road-losing streak.

Iverson netted 19 points in the first half but the 76ers trailed 57-41. He went off for 21 points in the third quarter, giving them a 79-77 edge heading into the final frame.

Kyle Korver, who had 16 points, hit consecutive 3-pointers and Iverson made two free throws, stretching the lead to 87-77 with 10:36 to go. But the Jazz fought back.

Boozer made two free throws putting Utah in front, 101-96 with 2:04 left until Iverson answered with a layup and Korver hit another 3-pointer to knot the game.

Iverson missed the go-ahead jumper with half a minute left and Matt Harpring bounced a jumper off the rim at the other end with five seconds remaining. But Okur sped in unguarded from the right side to grab the rebound and was hit by Iverson.

After Okur calmly sank both free throws, the 76ers called for a timeout. With Iverson watching from the bench, Willie Green missed a running bank shot and Bran Skinner couldn’t convert the tip as time expired.

Houston Rockets 114 Toronto Raptors 102

Yao Ming scored a season-high 40 points, on 13-of-16 field goal shooting, while Tracy McGrady had 34 and 12 rebounds, fuelling the Rockets’ blowout over the visiting Raptors.

Donyell Marshall had 15 points and 12 rebounds in Toronto’s ninth loss in the last 11 games.

Chicago Bulls 92 Portland Trail Blazers 87

Ben Gordon scored 23 points and Eddy Curry added 18 as the Bulls ran to their fourth consecutive victory - their longest streak in six years - with legendary Michael Jordan on hand to watch.

Zach Randolph led Portland with 26 points and 12 rebounds.

Phoenix Suns 107 Denver Nuggets 105

Amare Stoudemire had 32 points and Quentin Richardson’s tip-in at the buzzer, lifted the Suns past the short-handed Nuggets for their ninth consecutive victory.

Richardson finished with 19 points while Steve Nash added 15 and 10 assists as league-leading Phoenix (22-3), claimed its eighth straight road win.

Andre Miller had 23 points and 11 assists, while Kenyon Martin added 22 points and 11 rebounds to pace Denver, which played without injured starters Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby.

Memphis Grizzlies 82, L.A. Lakers 72: Shane Battier scored 17 points off the bench, while Pau Gasol had 14 and 11 rebounds as the Grizzlies earned their first victory after 18 losses on the Lakers’ home court.

Caron Butler scored 16 points while Kobe Bryant had 11 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Lakers, who shot an icy 32 per cent from the field.

Washington Wizards 103 Golden State Warriors 101

Gilbert Arenas scored 29 points, including an acrobatic layup with less than second left to lift the visiting Wizards.

Arenas had 29 points, Larry Hughes added 25, while Jamison finished with 18 and 11 rebounds for Washington against their former team.

Jason Richardson led Golden State with 26 points.