DENVER (AP) - Nick Van Exel scored 33 points and
James Posey hit two free throws with 3.6 seconds left
after Van Exel missed a pair as Denver ended a
four-game losing streak with a 93-90 victory over the
Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. <br><br>Iverson, the NBA's
leading scorer, scored 38 points, shooting 14-for-29 and
scoring 14 in the final quarter. Dikembe Mutombo added 13
points and 13 rebounds for the Sixers, who were without
coach Larry Brown. <br><br>Brown complained of muscle
spasms in his right shoulder and neck and never came out
of the locker room. <br><br>Van Exel also had 11
assists. Posey and Voshon Lenard had 12 points each as the
Nuggets avoided their second five-game losing streak of
the year. <br><br>Iverson's two free throws and a
free throw by Raja Bell with 56 seconds left pulled
Philadelphia to 91-90. James Posey missed a 3-pointer, but
with Iverson unable to free himself, Aaron McKie's
3-pointer fell short with 14 seconds left <br><br>Van Exel
missed both free throws with 7.2 seconds left, but Posey
converted two foul shots after Raef LaFrentz grabbed the
offensive rebound. McKie's desperate shot at the buzzer
missed the rim. <br><br>Trailing 77-69 after three
quarters, Iverson brought Philadelphia back with nine
points, hitting a free throw off a defensive technical
with 7:54 left to tie the game at 81-81.
<br><br>Derrick Coleman tied the game for the last time, 85-85
with 4:46 to go, and after LaFrentz tipped in a miss
by Ryan Bowen, Van Exel hit two shots between a
layup by Eric Snow as the Nuggets led 91-87.
<br><br>The Sixers trailed 57-54 early in the second half
after two jump shots by Matt Harpring, but Van Exel's
five points helped Denver maintain at least a
six-point lead through the quarter. The Nuggets led 77-67
after three quarters on Ryan Bowen's tip and a
3-pointer from halfcourt by Van Exel that beat the buzzer.
<br><br>Lenard hit three jumpers in a 10-2 run to start the
second quarter as the Nuggets took a 33-28 lead. Lenard
was 5-for-5 in the quarter, and with Iverson 2-for-8,
Philadelphia trailed 50-46 at the half. <br><br>Iverson got
off to a slow start, missing five of his first seven
shots. Notes: Prior to the game the 76ers activated
guard Speedy Claxton from the injured list and waived
forward Michael Ruffin. ... Philadelphia is at full
strength for the first time this year. ... During a
Thursday practice, Antonio McDyess had his first dunk
since Oct. 12 surgery on his left knee. ... Scott
Williams played with a sprained right knee.