TORONTO, 1 May 2005 — Allen Iverson scored 37 points and had 15 assists as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Detroit Pistons 115-104 in a National Basketball Association playoff on Friday in Philadelphia.
Iverson’s big night helped rally the Sixers from a 13-point deficit and cut Detroit’s lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Game Four in the series to be played today in Philadelphia.
Iverson was 15-for-26 from the field as the reigning NBA champions, one of the best defensive teams in the league, failed to contain him. Philadelphia outscored Detroit 35-26 in the fourth quarter.
Chris Webber shot 19 points for the 76ers, nine of them coming in the pivotal fourth quarter, as Philadelphia rebounded from two lopsided losses.
Rodney Rogers added 15 points for the Sixers, while Samuel Dalembert chipped in with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Andre Iguodala added 13 points and had seven steals for the Sixers, who shot 55 percent.
Ben Wallace had a career-high 29 points and 16 rebounds for the Pistons, who shot 51 percent.
Richard Hamilton added 24 points and 12 assists for the Pistons, while Tayshaun Prince added 19 points.
In other NBA playoff games played Friday, Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Grizzlies 110-90 in Memphis.
Joe Johnson added 20 points for the top-seeded Suns, who took a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven opening round Western Conference series with the victory.
Phoenix can wrap up the series with a sweep with a win in Fame Four today in Memphis.
Jim Jackson had 17 points for the Suns, while Shawn Marion had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Steve Nash had 13 points and eight assists. Lorenzen Wright led Memphis with 14 points, while Pau Gasol and Mike Miller had 13 points each.
In Sacramento, Mike Bibby scored 31 points as the Kings beat the Seattle SuperSonics 116-104.
Kenny Thomas had 22 points and Cuttino Mobley added 21 for the Kings, who still trail the best-of-seven Western Conference opening round series 2-1. Game Four to be played today in Sacramento.
Ray Allen led the SuperSonics with 33 points, while Jerome James added 22.
