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Iverson scorches old team as Nuggets top Sixers

Jan 7, 2008 - 4:53 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Allen Iverson gave the Philadelphia 76ers a blast from the past.

Iverson had 38 points and eight assists in his second game against his former club and Carmelo Anthony added 23 points as the Denver Nuggets held off the 76ers, 109-96, at the Pepsi Center on Sunday night.

Anthony Carter dished out 15 assists for the Nuggets, who have won seven of their last nine contests.

"We are playing a lot harder and getting off to good starts lately," Carter said. "Whenever everyone makes shots like tonight, it makes my job a lot easier."

Iverson, who was traded to Denver in December 2006 after 10 star-studded seasons in Philadelphia, shot 14-of-25 from the field as Denver cruised to an easy victory in the second half after taking a 10-point lead at halftime.

"I just wanted to win the game," Iverson said. "It's just another game for me. Fortunately, the ball was going in the basket tonight."

The four-time scoring champion, who averaged 28.1 points during his stint with the Sixers, showed off some of the skills that helped him create an impressive resume with his former team.

Iverson's accolades include being selected first overall in 1996, an appearance in the NBA Finals in 2001 and a league MVP award that same season.

In his first meeting against Philadelphia on January 2 of last season, Iverson was ejected after receiving a second technical foul late in the fourth quarter as the Nuggets fell, 108-97. He had 30 points but seven turnovers before his departure.

It seemed as if he set out to show off against his old teammates in this one, using a variety of difficult drives to knife through the defense - a staple of his career in Philadelphia.

"I've been in some battles with those guys," Iverson said of the Sixers. "I wish them the very best. We're trying not to get ahead of ourselves. It's one game at a time for us right now."

The Sixers, who are firmly in rebuilding mode in the post-Iverson era, have dropped three in a row and four of six on their six-game road trip.

"It was a little tiring from our long road trip and they jumped on us," Sixers guard Andre Miller said. "We have been playing some good basketball and, if we don't give up so many easy baskets, we are in this game."

Miller, who was sent to Philadelphia in the Iverson deal, scored 22 points and Andre Iguodala added 14 and 10 rebounds for the Sixers.

"Denver is a very good basketball team," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "The difference was in the transition game. They pushed the ball and got a lot of easy baskets. We'll bounce back."