r-7 shooting from the field with four points entering the final period but said he remained confident.''This is one of those situations where you're not shooting well, but you don't stop shooting,'' he said. ''I put a lot of work in the offseason to make myself who I am, to be a good enough shooter and good enough player to be in the NBA. I don't lack any confidence when I'm 2 for 7. I'm going to shoot the next shot.''Vaughn said Nelson's play was a key to the Magic's victory.''Vintage, to say it in one word,'' Vaughn said. ''We put the ball in his hands. He made shots for us, made plays for us. His ability to get in the paint was pretty good for our group tonight.''Besides snapping the road skid, the victory was gratifying for Nelson, who grew up in nearby Chester, Pa., and attended Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. Nelson was visited in the locker room afterward by Hawks coach Phil Martelli.''It's definitely special,'' Nelson said. ''It's always fun to come back and see my friends and family.''Two 3-pointers from Hollis Thompson to start the second half helped Philadelphia take its largest lead to that point,Air Max 2015 Womens, 50-42, 50 seconds into the third quarter. But Orlando ran off 11 straight over the next 4:18 to go in front 53-50 with 6:52 left in the period. The Magic lead grew to as many as seven points,Nike Flyknit Air Max 2015 Blue Green, 65-58, with 3:05 left in the quarter on Harris' free throws before Philadelphia closed the period by scoring nine of the final 11 points to enter the final quarter tied at 67.Philadelphia completed a buyout of Granger's contract on Wednesday night, enabling the veteran forward to sign with any team if he clears waivers by 5 p.m. on Friday. Granger was acquired from the Indiana Pacers last Thursday for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen but never played a minute for Philadelphia. The 76ers also received a 2015 second-round draft pick in the deal.NOTES: Orlando's Arron Afflalo (right ankle sprain), who averages a team-leading 19.7 points per game, missed his third straight game. ... The Magic entered Wednesday averaging 89.4 points during their road losing streak. ... The Sixers are scheduled to retire Allen Iverson's jersey during Saturday's game against Washington. ... The Sixers' home losing streak is the longest since they lost 12 straight in the 1996-97 season.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Allen Iverson cupped his hand to his left ear and asked to hear his favorite tune one more time.Advertisement With that command, 20,000 roaring Philadelphia 76ers fans gave AI the standing ovation he earned by stamping himself as one of the franchise's all-time greats.Iverson, emotional as he thanked former teammates and friends, had his No. 3 retired at halftime of Saturday's game against Washington.High above the Wells Fargo Center court, Iverson's banner slipped between Maurice Cheeks' No. 10 and Charles Barkley's No. 34.''They all wanted me to talk about how much y'all loved me,Air Max 2014 Black Silver White,'' Iverson said, ''but trust me,Air Max 2013 Jade Green Black, the feeling was mutual.''Iverson officially retired in October after last playing in 2010. He won four scoring titles for the Sixers and was the 2001 MVP when he led them to the NBA Finals. He never won a championship, the lone omission in a career that is destined for the Hall of Fame.The Sixers may as well have turned the arena into an AI museum. Four banners greeted fans at the main concourse entrance, and photos of him were plastered all around the arena. The merchandise stands sold Iverson jerseys for $130, and lower level tickets were going for as much for $1,280 on Stubhub about an hour before the 7:30 p.m. tipoff.The fans loved him, and he blew them kisses after the No. 3 was raised to show how much he loved them back.''I am Philly,'' Iverson said. ''It's always going to be that way.''Iverson's return injected a rare dose of excitement into a franchise playing some of the worst basketball in the league. The Sixers, in full-blown rebuilding mode, had lost 12 straight entering Saturday's game.The losing didn't matter much Saturday, just the memories.The Sixers wore special ''Iverson Forever'' patches on their jerseys and Iverso