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Without Iverson, 76ers face first-place Magic

Dec 9, 2006 - 4:33 PM Philadelphia (5-13) at Orlando (14-7) 7:00 pm EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia 76ers will likely be starting a new era on Saturday.

With the team considering their options in trading superstar guard Allen Iverson, the 76ers will face the first-place Orlando Magic.

Iverson, a four-time scoring champion whose name is synonymous with the Sixers, asked team president Billy King for a trade, according to owner Ed Snider, who said Friday night that Iverson would be accommodated.

Second in the NBA in scoring this season at 31.2 points per game, Iverson hobbled off the court after the third quarter of Wednesday's 121-94 loss at Chicago with back spasms. He missed Friday's home game vs. Washington and will not be in action at Orlando on Saturday, a decision made by coach Maurice Cheeks.

Without the All-Star playmaker, Philadelphia squandered a 20-point lead and suffered a 113-98 setback to Washington, its sixth straight loss and 13th in 15 games. Without their best player, the Sixers did not look much different than they did with him. The offense clicked at times but could not compensate for a porous defense that allowed the Wizards back into the game.

Dwight Howard had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who were returning home following a 4-2 road trip but dropped a 87-83 decision to Detroit on Friday.

Grant Hill scored 12 points and Trevor Ariza 10 for Orlando (14-7), which shot 45 percent (29-of-65) and holds a one-half game lead over the Pistons for the Eastern Conference's best record.

The Sixers won the only between the teams this season. Iverson scored 39 points and nailed the winning basket at Orlando on November 3.