The Philadelphia 76ers will take any win they can get against the Orlando Magic, even an ugly one.
Allen Iverson scored 20 points, including a free throw with 2.9 seconds left, leading the Sixers to a 99-98 victory over the Magic on Friday night.
Philadelphia had lost nine of its last 10 against the Magic, including two in a row this season.
"I was so mad at halftime with the way they played the last few minutes, but they responded,'' Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "I'm frustrated with what they did at the end of the game, but I'm pleased to get a win.''
Derrick Coleman added a season-high 22 points and Eric Snow had 17, including four free throws in the final minute for Philadelphia, which has won two straight since the All-Star break.
Tracy McGrady had 37 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 8.7 seconds left, and Mike Miller added a season-high 33 for Orlando.
The Magic have lost seven of nine.
"All of the losses are tough,'' McGrady said. "This is a loss that really hurts because this is a team we thought we could come in and get a win.''
After McGrady's 3 over Aaron McKie tied it at 98, Iverson was fouled by Darrell Armstrong as he drove to the basket.
Iverson hit his first free throw, but missed the second. Miller got the rebound, but threw the ball out of bounds while trying to pass it.
Iverson asked Brown whether he should purposely miss the second attempt, but tried to make it after a discussion with the coaches.
"I was trying not to settle for a jump shot,'' Iverson said. "I wanted to get a layup and I got fouled.''
Iverson's right foot was bothering him after the game, but it didn't appear too serious.
McGrady, the NBA's leading scorer, has at least 30 points in 11 of his last 13 games. McGrady, among the first four players chosen Thursday for the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, shot 11-for-26, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range.
Miller, coming off a four-point performance in Thursday night's 98-88 loss at Detroit, was 13-for-21, including 5-for-8 from beyond the arc.
"Every loss is frustrating,'' Miller said. "It's hard to put one of these behind us.''
Orlando, which trailed most of the fourth quarter, got to 92-91 on a 3-pointer by Miller with 1:28 left. After McKie scored on a driving layup, Miller's layup with 24.9 seconds left cut it to 94-93.
Snow made two free throws, giving the Sixers a 96-93 lead. But McGrady made a pair to cut Orlando's deficit to one. After Snow hit two more free throws, McGrady nailed the game-tying 3.
Iverson shot just 8-for-22, but added seven rebounds.
Orlando, already without Grant Hill (ankle injury), didn't have forward Shawn Kemp for the third straight game. Kemp missed two games after he was suspended without pay Tuesday for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy for the third time. He was reinstated Friday, but wasn't able to join the team in time to play. Kemp is expected to return for Sunday's game in Toronto.
The Sixers took their biggest lead, 49-37, following a 15-5 run in the second quarter. Snow began the spurt with a turnaround jumper, and added a 3-pointer _ his third in 20 attempts this season _ that made it 43-35. Iverson had a jumper and driving layup before Keith Van Horn capped the run with a layup.
Orlando then scored seven straight, sparked by a 3-pointer from Miller. A free throw by Jacque Vaughn got the Magic to 51-47 at halftime.
The Sixers outrebounded Orlando 49-29.
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