Brown wants Iverson to rethink retirement plans
Larry Brown has a message for Allen Iverson: Don't give up. Iverson's former coach with the 76ers said yesterday that he thinks the 10-time All-Star "still has a passion to play" and shouldn't retire.
Larry Brown has a message for Allen Iverson: Don't give up.
Iverson's former coach with the 76ers said yesterday that he thinks the 10-time All-Star "still has a passion to play" and shouldn't retire.
"Anybody that knows him understands how much he loves to play," said Brown, now coaching the Charlotte Bobcats.
Brown believes Iverson is "a little embarrassed" and the retirement talk might come from frustration.
"Think about it: You're an MVP in the All-Star Game and an MVP in the league, scored over 20,000 points," Brown said. "You still know you can play, and to not have everybody jump up, it's a pretty humbling thing. But he can play."
Brown said Iverson could get opportunities later in the season. He pointed to Jan. 10, the date contracts are no longer guaranteed for the season, and the trade deadline a month later when several teams might reshape their rosters.
In games last night:
* At Charlotte, Gerald Wallace had 31 points and 14 rebounds while outplaying LeBron James, and the Cleveland Cavaliers looked disjointed in Shaquille O'Neal's return from a shoulder injury in a 94-87 loss to the Bobcats.
Surprising Charlotte won its third straight game following a seven-game losing streak behind Wallace, who topped 30 points for the second straight game. James scored 25 points.
O'Neal recovered after missing five of his first seven shots to finish with 11 points and eight rebounds. He missed six games.
* At Miami, Antawn Jamison scored 24 points, Nick Young added 22 and the Washington Wizards beat the Heat, 94-84. Jamison, playing for the first time this season against the Heat after missing the first two meetings because of a shoulder injury, also scored his 16,000th career point. Dwyane Wade had 18 points while struggling for Miami, and Jermaine O'Neal had 19 points and 13 rebounds, his fifth double-double of the season. Wizards owner Abe Pollin's funeral was yesterday in Washington.
* At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant had 33 points and 12 rebounds as the Thunder beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 108-90.
* At Sacramento, Tyreke Evans and Beno Udrih had 21 points each as the Kings beat the New Jersey Nets, 109-96. New Jersey was led by Devin Harris' 25 points. It was the Nets' 16th consecutive loss to start the season.
* At Boston, Ray Allen scored 20 points, Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins had 18 apiece, and the Celtics beat the Toronto Raptors, 116-103. Chris Bosh had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Toronto.
* At Denver, Carmelo Anthony outdueled Al Harrington, 50 points to 41, in the Nuggets' 128-122 win over the New York Knicks. Anthony hit 17 of 28 shots from the floor, and 15 of 16 free throws. Harrington, who was not in the Knicks' starting lineup, also had 10 rebounds.
* At Indianapolis, Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 113-92 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Danny Granger finished with 20 points for the Pacers, while Mike Dunleavy returned from a right knee injury and scored 13 in his season debut.
* At Auburn Hills, Mich., Chris Kaman scored 26 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers top the Detroit Pistons, 104-96. Pistons rookie Jonas Jerebko scored a career-best 22 points.
* At Portland, Zach Randolph's 21 points lifted the Memphis Grizzlies over the Trail Blazers, 106-96. Portland got 26 points from Brandon Roy.
* At Minneapolis, Jason Richardson scored 22 points as the Phoenix Suns beat the Timberwolves, 120-95. Minnesota has lost 15 games in a row.
* At Houston, Tim Duncan and Antonio McDyess recorded double-doubles, Tony Parker had 19 points and seven assists, and the San Antonio Spurs earned their first road win of the season with a 92-84 victory over the Rockets. Duncan had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and McDyess added 15 points and 14 boards.
