Sixers Have The Clips' Number

For most of game, the Philadelphia 76ers handled the Los Angeles Clippers, never trailing and leading by double digits almost the whole way.

Still, coach Larry Brown could not relax as the Sixers sent the Los Angeles Clippers to their 12th straight loss, 94-78 Wednesday night.

"I hated this game," Brown said. "These are the hardest games to coach. I'll take the win, of course, but good teams put games like this away."

Allen Iverson scored 22 points on 9-for-22 shooting and also had six assists. On Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, he missed his final 11 shots in an 87-84 loss.

Toni Kukoc had 18 points, the most in his three games with the Sixers, and a career-high 14 rebounds.

"It's still too early to compare roles, but I'm glad guys are looking for me," said Kukoc.

Tyrone Hill had a season-high 15 points, Theo Ratliff had 13 rebounds and Eric Snow had 11 assists for Philadelphia.

Lamar Odom had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers. Derek Anderson had 19 points and Maurice Taylor 18 for Los Angeles, which has lost 26 of its last 9.

The losing is taking its toll on many of the young Clippers.

"I'm one of those players who try to make my teammates better, but they have to help you out, too," Anderson said. "These guys are so selfish that they don't play hard. You have to come out and play every night. If not, retire and go do something else."

The 76ers opened a double-digit lead in the first quarter and it was 16 on Ratliff's jumper at the end of the period.

The Clippers closed to 68-60 with 31 seconds left in the third quarter, but a jumper from the corner by Kukoc restored the double-digit lead and Philadelphia then pulled away by scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter. Iverson capped the run with a steal and dunk.

"We tried to pick it up a little bit in the second half but we couldn't get over the top," Clippers coach Jim Todd said.

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