The playoffs are when reputations are made and memories are created, feats of skill or perseverance become permanently etched in minds.
No basketball fan forgets Michael Jordan shrugging in response to his three-point spree against Portland. Or Julius Erving soaring to the other side of the rim to score against the Lakers. Or Willis Reed hobbling on the court to lead the Knicks to victory.
After Friday night, few should forget Ray Allen turning Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals into a game of backyard H-O-R-S-E and Allen Iverson gunning for one-upmanship late in a shootout for the ages.
One day after stopping just short of accusing the league of conspiring to place the Sixers in the NBA Finals, Allen backed up his strong words with stronger play. In one first-half stretch, Allen went on a 17-0 run and scored 19 straight Milwaukee points.
Allen’s career playoff-high 41 points, including nine three-pointers, sparked Milwaukee to a 110-100 victory over Philadelphia before an ear-splitting crowd of 18,717 at the Bradley Center.
Thanks to Iverson, it wasn’t easy. Iverson scored 26 of his game-high 46 points in the fourth quarter, including 17 points in a 3-minute-46-second stretch, to turn a blowout into something interesting.
“I had my mind focused on scoring,” Allen said. “But Allen put on a show. I was amazed at times.”
Milwaukee’s victory sends this series back to Philadelphia for a one-and-done Game 7 on Sunday for the right to advance to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Milwaukee’s victory also ensures another off-day of psychological ploys, conspiracy theories and the like. Before Friday’s critical contest, Allen stood by his belief.
“I definitely don’t believe the league wants us in the Finals,” Allen said. “The ratings would be a lot higher with Philadelphia and the Lakers. I don’t think anybody doubts that.”
Allen, Oliver Stone and conspiracy theorists everywhere can either make a movie or simply have a ball analyzing this one.
Just over two minutes in, Scott Williams got called for a flagrant foul when his shoulder separated Iverson from the floor. But Iverson received a quick technical from referee Joe Crawford at the 3:38 mark–and this came after he had scored four points on one possession.
Iverson scored 11 of Philadelphia’s first 15 points, back when this was a one-point game.
Then Allen took over.
He hit a 10-footer with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter. He hit the free throw following Iverson’s technical. He scored on a fast-break layup. He hit back-to-back three-pointers.
Pausing only for the quarter break, he hit another three-pointer to open the second. Then came two free throws. Then–why not?–another three-pointer.
That’s 19 straight points for those keeping score at home or looking for playoff memories.
Speaking of playoff memories, Milwaukee led by as many as 33 before Iverson took over in the fourth. At one point, he scored seven points in 14 seconds, including a four-point play. The Sixers got as close as 10.
Minutes before tipoff, Allen strolled onto the court with a spotlight trained on him. The crowd roared, a virtual curtain call even before his work had been done. They booed Iverson.
Maybe the crowd knew what was coming. But both performances will still stay with them forever.
