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O'Neal, Pacers hand 76ers 12th straight defeat

Dec 21, 2006 - 4:21 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Superstar Allen Iverson is now heading for the Rocky Mountains, but the Philadelphia 76ers can't seem to put to rest their downward spiral.

Jermaine O'Neal collected a season-high 34 points and 11 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers posted a 101-93 triumph over the Sixers, who dropped their 12th consecutive game.

On Tuesday, the Sixers finally sent a disgruntled Iverson along with rookie Ivan McFarlin to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round picks.

"It's been feeling different the last few games," Sixers forward Kyle Korver said. "We're starting to move on."

Miller and Smith both should be available for Friday's game at Boston.

"Andre is a very good point guard and he has talent," Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks said. "There is no question whether we will be able to play better when he gets here because he is an experienced point guard, he understands about playing.

"He understands how to get guys the ball in certain situations, so we are going to be better just because he is an experienced guard that knows how to play the game."

The 76ers are entangled in the seventh-longest losing streak in franchise history and the longest slide since 1996-97, when they dropped 13 games in a row during Iverson's rookie campaign.

"We need to win; we're starting to make a change or two that will help us win," 76ers swingman Andre Iguodala said. "We need to do that. That's with any team in any sport. If you're losing and you're on a losing streak and you feel like a change needs to be made for you to win, than that's what you're going to push for."

O'Neal's block on Korver sparked a fast break and Danny Granger converted a three-point play with 6:47 left for an 82-74 advantage.

Korver responded by scoring seven of Philadelphia's 10 points during a 10-2 burst to tie the game at 84-84 with 4:13 to go.

However, Stephen Jackson scored on consecutive baskets and O'Neal made a jumper from the baseline over Samuel Dalembert for a 94-89 cushion with 52 seconds remaining.

"It takes a lot of help from teammates to be successful in this league," O'Neal said. "This year when I take over games has been based on my teammates putting me in good positions. It came from a total team effort."

Jackson scored 25 points and Granger added 15 off the bench for the Pacers, who have won three of their last four games and four straight against the Sixers.

"We had a lot of other guys playing solid," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "I thought that was a really big part to the game."

In the third quarter, Indiana took its first lead of the contest when Granger hit a 13-footer with 3 1/2 minutes left, capping an 8-1 run for a 68-62 bulge.

Korver and Iguodala scored 20 points apiece and Dalembert chipped in 16 and 13 rebounds for Philadelphia, which shot 46 percent (35-of-76) from the floor.

"As time moves on, they will get better when being in late-game situations that will give them some confidence to be able to play and make plays in those situations," Cheeks said. "Our effort was good, but not good enough to win the game."

76ers forward Chris Webber missed his third straight game with a sprained ankle.