MIAMI (AP) _ Allen Iverson scored 32 points and the Philadelphia 76ers kept pace with the Nets in the Atlantic Division by coasting to a 103-83 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.
The Sixers, 15-2 since the All-Star break, stayed a half-game behind New Jersey for first place in the Atlantic Division, improving to 40-26.
Philadelphia shot 56 percent from the floor and never led by fewer than eight points in the second half.
Iverson, averaging 32.1 points in his last eight games, went 13-of-25 from the field to go along with six assists. It was his 29th game this season with 30 or more points. Keith Van Horn scored 17 points and Kenny Thomas added 16 for the Sixers, who completed a four-game season sweep of the Heat.
Miami continued its descent toward the draft lottery. The Heat have lost six of seven overall and five straight at home.
Rookie Caron Butler scored a season-high 26 points and was the Heat's only starter to reach double figures in scoring.
The Sixers never trailed, grabbing a 28-18 lead at the end of the first quarter and opening a 45-26 lead midway through the second period. Philadelphia shot 60 percent in the first half and led 54-37.
The Heat chipped away, pulling within 72-60 after three periods and closing to 74-66 on Butler's bucket. However, Iverson and Van Horn each followed with 3-pointers to extend the Sixers' lead to 80-66 with 9:33 remaining.
Notes@: Sixers center Derrick Coleman suffered a bruised left hand in the third quarter and didn't return. ...The Sixers have won 10 of the last 15 games against the Heat, including four straight in Miami. ...Sixers coach Larry Brown now has 1,100 wins when combining his NBA and ABA records. ...Brian Grant had seven defensive rebounds in the first quarter for the Heat, a season-high for any quarter by a Heat player. ...Heat coach Pat Riley juggled his lineup, starting Anthony Carter and Eddie House in the backcourt over Travis Best and Rasual Butler. The duo was a combined 4-of-21 from the field. ... The loss gave Riley a first-ever four-game sweep against a division opponent. ... With the Heat trailing 57-37, Anthony Carter was called for a flagrant foul against Iverson, who was taken down while driving to the basket.
The Sixers, 15-2 since the All-Star break, stayed a half-game behind New Jersey for first place in the Atlantic Division, improving to 40-26.
Philadelphia shot 56 percent from the floor and never led by fewer than eight points in the second half.
Iverson, averaging 32.1 points in his last eight games, went 13-of-25 from the field to go along with six assists. It was his 29th game this season with 30 or more points. Keith Van Horn scored 17 points and Kenny Thomas added 16 for the Sixers, who completed a four-game season sweep of the Heat.
Miami continued its descent toward the draft lottery. The Heat have lost six of seven overall and five straight at home.
Rookie Caron Butler scored a season-high 26 points and was the Heat's only starter to reach double figures in scoring.
The Sixers never trailed, grabbing a 28-18 lead at the end of the first quarter and opening a 45-26 lead midway through the second period. Philadelphia shot 60 percent in the first half and led 54-37.
The Heat chipped away, pulling within 72-60 after three periods and closing to 74-66 on Butler's bucket. However, Iverson and Van Horn each followed with 3-pointers to extend the Sixers' lead to 80-66 with 9:33 remaining.
Notes@: Sixers center Derrick Coleman suffered a bruised left hand in the third quarter and didn't return. ...The Sixers have won 10 of the last 15 games against the Heat, including four straight in Miami. ...Sixers coach Larry Brown now has 1,100 wins when combining his NBA and ABA records. ...Brian Grant had seven defensive rebounds in the first quarter for the Heat, a season-high for any quarter by a Heat player. ...Heat coach Pat Riley juggled his lineup, starting Anthony Carter and Eddie House in the backcourt over Travis Best and Rasual Butler. The duo was a combined 4-of-21 from the field. ... The loss gave Riley a first-ever four-game sweep against a division opponent. ... With the Heat trailing 57-37, Anthony Carter was called for a flagrant foul against Iverson, who was taken down while driving to the basket.