Allen Iverson MVP 2001: Highlight Vs Jason Kidd Phoenix Suns

Allen Iverson didn't have to score 40 points again.

Iverson had 26 points, and George Lynch added 15 points and 12 rebounds Sunday to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the Phoenix Suns 104-98.

The Sixers have won four straight since the All-Star break, improving the NBA's best record to 40-14.

"People will say, 'What happened? He only had 26 points, but he won the game," Sixers coach Larry Brown said of Iverson, who had reached 40 points in three straight games. "He gave the ball up when he was double-teamed and did all the right things. I'm really proud of him."

Jason Kidd had 22 points and 10 assists, Shawn Marion had 17 points and 13 rebounds and Rodney Rogers had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix, which had won four of five.

Toni Kukoc added 17 points and nine rebounds and Matt Geiger, playing his first game since a two-game suspension for violating the NBA's steroid policy, had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Sixers.

"Toni Kukoc gave us a big lift off the bench," Iverson said. "He made a whole lot of plays and took a lot of pressure of me to score."

Phoenix, which trailed by 13 in the second half, cut it 91-88 on a layup and free throw by Cliff Robinson with 4:40 left in the game.

But Aaron McKie nailed a 3-pointer and Iverson made one free throw then drilled a 3-pointer to make it 98-88 with 2:56 left.

The Suns didn't get closer than six the rest of the way.

Iverson had 18 points in the first half, but did not score in the second half until making a free throw with 7:23 left in the game. He missed 13 of his last 16 shots to finish 9-of-24.

"It's a hard job," Kidd said of guarding Iverson. "He does it for 48 minutes. He never stops. That's why he's one of the best players in the league. You just try to make it as hard as possible for him and hope he misses.

"He displayed another part of his game, being able to find the open man. He's learned that and that makes their team even stronger and better."

Philadelphia took its biggest lead, 75-62, on a 10-0 run midway through the third quarter.

After the Suns cut it to 65-62 on a runner by Tony Delk, Tyrone Hill's layup snapped a field goal drought of 5:23.

Iverson then made a steal, drove to the basket, drew two defenders and passed to Kukoc, who hit a wide-open jumper, giving the Sixers a 69-62 lead. Iverson stole another pass and found Kukoc for a 3-pointer and McKie hit a 3-pointer to cap the run.

Phoenix scored nine straight to cut it to 75-71, but the Sixers scored five in a row to take an 80-71 lead into the fourth quarter.

Kukoc scored eight straight points in the second quarter, then assisted on two of the next three baskets for the Sixers. He lost two points when his put-back slowly bounced around and rested atop the rim midway through the fourth.

"In the second quarter, I made a conscious effort to play down low and I got a couple opportunities to break my man," Kukoc said.

Phoenix took its biggest lead, 32-23, late in the first after Rogers made a layup and hit a free throw to complete a three-point play.

"Same old demons, we were throwing the ball all over the place," Suns coach Scott Skiles said.

Notes: Philadelphia has beaten each team at least once. ... Phoenix plays its next three games on the road against Eastern Conference teams. The Suns are 12-6 against the East. ... Philadelphia has scored more than 100 points in four straight games for the first time this season. ... Phoenix had won 14 of the last 16 against the Sixers. ... Iverson got a technical foul for arguing over a non-foul call midway through the fourth quarter. ... Suns forward Tom Gugliotta missed his second straight game due to the death of his mother.