The struggles of Allen Iverson and the absence of Eric Snow had no effect on the Philadelphia 76ers, which routed the Charlotte Hornets with an 81-76 victory and a 2-1 lead in the NBA playoff series in Philadelphia Friday.
The 76ers did a first-rate job of shutting down the Hornets' front line, while theirs controlled the interior in a victory that moved Philadelphia within one game of winning the best-of-five Eastern Conference first-round series.
Iverson struggled mightily in Monday's 108-98 overtime loss at Charlotte in Game Two, connecting on only 5-of-21 shots. He finished 9-of-27 from the field Friday, but knocked down a three-pointer with 1:55 remaining to give Philadelphia a 76-68 lead.
Snow had been diagnosed with a chip fracture of his right ankle that forced him to wear a fitted walking boot and watch Game Three from the bench.
But he seemed to be enjoying the view as George Lynch, Theo Ratliff and Tyrone Hill combined to frustrate Charlotte's big three of Anthony Mason, Derrick Coleman and Elden Campbell all night.
Charlotte's frontline combined for just five points in the first half and wound up with 26. Mason managed just one point on 0-of-7 shooting despite playing 45 minutes - (Agencies)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
