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Korver spoils Iverson's first game against former club

Jan 3, 2007 - 6:33 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Kyle Korver and the Philadelphia 76ers came away smiling.

Korver scored 26 points off the bench and Andre Miller added 17 and 10 assists as the 76ers posted a 108-97 victory over Allen Iverson and the Denver Nuggets.

Iverson was acquired from Philadelphia in exchange for Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round picks on December 19, following an impressive nine-year stint with the Sixers.

"There were a lot of things going on as far as the Sixers and Allen," 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "But our guys were just focused on playing the game and trying to get a win."

"In business, things happen and you got to move on," Sixers guard Kevin Ollie said. "I hope for the best for his (Iverson) family, and I hope his transition is smooth."

Miller and Smith combined for 14 of the Sixers' 26 first-quarter points.

"The trade tension was a little less for us since the circumstances were different," Smith said. "The way he (Iverson) was let go was a little different than the way Andre and I were let go.

"We both had the same motivation to want to go out and beat our former team," Smith added. "From the time we entered the building, we wanted to set the tone and establish an early lead, and that's what we did."

Iverson finished with 30 points and nine assists for Denver, which fell to 2-4 since the trade. He was ejected with 1:44 left in the game.

"This is like any other game, I wanted to win," Iverson said. "They won the game, they did everything right, everything they had to do. And we just didn't get it done the way we needed to.

"It felt like playing against those guys at practice, it was just another game for me. I think we are a better team and we just didn't get it done."

Philadelphia was able to take control in the third quarter as Korver's 3-pointer with just over one minute left sparked a 7-0 burst, giving the 76ers an 86-73 edge entering the final period.

But Iverson scored six straight points to start the fourth quarter as the Nuggets closed to 86-80 with 10 1/2 minutes remaining.

"We fought so hard to get back into the game, I just felt like we didn't have enough to finish it off," Iverson said.

Korver and Steven Hunter combined to score the Sixers' next seven points, pushing the lead to 93-83 with just over eight minutes to go.

Hunter scored 13 points and Smith had 12 and eight rebounds for the 76ers, who shot 45 percent (41-of-90) from the field and forced 22 turnovers.

Rookie Yakhouba Diawara scored a season-best 23 points for the Nuggets, who shot 38 percent (33-of-85) and were outscored, 58-36, in points in the paint.

"If I had to evaluate the game, I'd say we didn't handle the job," Denver coach George Karl said.

Sixers forward Chris Webber missed his third straight game with a bruised right foot.