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By ROB MAADDI AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia 76ers' woeful defense spoiled another stellar effort from Allen Iverson. Mehmet Okur scored 25 points and Andrei Kirilenko added 23, helping the Utah Jazz overcome Iverson's 46 points in a 110-102 victory over Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Milt Palacio had 17 points, Gordan Giricek added 16 and Okur had eight assists and eight rebounds as Utah won its third straight game on the road. The Northwest Division-leading Jazz have won eight of nine, improving to two games above .500 for the first time since starting 4-2. "We got whatever we wanted on offense," Palacio said. "We ran our offense and knew that they were not the best defensive team. We tried to exploit that and take advantage of that." The Jazz shot 74.1 percent (20-for-27) in the second half, getting several easy baskets on uncontested layups. Philadelphia has the NBA's second-highest scoring offense, but second-worst defense. "That's not the best defense you can play," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "Our defense just has to get better in order for us to win games. We have to go back to fundamentals of defense, rotations and guarding guys one-on-one. You have to want to play defense." Chris Webber scored 21 points and Samuel Dalembert had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the struggling Sixers, who have lost six of nine. Down 91-81 in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia fought back. First, Iverson tossed an alley-oop pass to Andre Iguodala for a thunderous slam. Then, Iverson made a layup, got fouled and hit the free throw to cut the deficit to 91-86. But Okur and Kirilenko answered with consecutive jumpers to extend the lead to 95-86. After Iverson scored on a driving layup, Giricek made another jumper for a 97-88 lead. A 3-pointer by Kyle Korver got the Sixers within 102-98 with 1:27 left and Iverson made a steal on the next possession. But Kirilenko blocked Iguodala's shot as he drove to the basket and Palacio iced it with two free throws. "It's a great win for us. We're playing as a team and executing," Kirilenko said. "We moved very well on offense and took advantage of some things." Iverson scored 40-plus points for the ninth time this season as he chases Kobe Bryant for the league scoring title. Webber wasn't feeling the effects of a back injury that forced him to miss two of the previous three games. He had 18 in the first half. "It's frustrating to lose a game," Iverson said. "I don't care if I play well or play bad. It's losing the game. That's the worst part of it." A 12-4 run in the second quarter helped Philadelphia take its first lead, 39-38, since early in the game. Webber started it with a hook shot and Dalembert finished it off with a dunk off an alley-oop pass from Kevin Ollie. Philadelphia led 51-48 at halftime, with Iverson and Webber combining for 43 of the points. "Our offense is fine," Cheeks said. "Our defense is where's it's at. You have to put guys out there and show them how to play defense. We have to keep trying." Notes:@ Iverson has 68 career games with more than 40 points. The Sixers are 4-5 when he does it this season. ... Cheeks got a technical foul at the end of the first quarter. Iverson got one late in the third. ... The Sixers are 8-1 at home against the Western Conference... Utah swept the season series and has won 10 of the last 13 meetings. ... Korver hit a 3-pointer for the 27th straight game, the longest streak in the league. ... The Jazz are 3-7 when allowing 100 or more points. ... Utah's bench outscored Philadelphia's 44-6.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-01-11-06 2032MST
