Yao Ming fifth straight double-double, but Rockets lose
(Agencies)
Updated: 2006-03-02 16:16

Coach Jeff Gundy agreed.

"That was a very disappointing fourth quarter," he said. "The level of defense, the intensity, was not correct and the shot selection was outside-in versus inside-out.

"That's very disappointing and we deserve what we got."

A day after it was reported that Iverson was not among the players invited to U.S. national team training camp, he responded with his 12th game of 40 or more points this season. His season high was 53 at Atlanta on Dec. 23 and he is averaging 33 points, the most of his nine-year career.

A late 8-0 run, with six points from Iverson, gave the 76ers a 104-98 lead with 1:38 to play. Iverson wrapped it up with a 17-foot jumper with 21 seconds to play for the game's final basket.

McGrady scored eight straight points early in the third quarter to put Houston up 53-49. A 12-3 run, including back-to-back 3s by Rafer Alston and David Wesley, gave Houston its biggest lead of the night at 67-56 with 5:02 to play in the third.

Philadelphia led by as many as eight early in the second quarter before a 10-2 run, including five points by Chuck Hayes, gave the Rockets a 39-37 lead with 4:02 left in the half. Iverson had 19 at halftime as the 76ers led 47-45.

Iverson had 11 in the first quarter as the 76ers led by as many as five. But four free throws by Juwan Howard in the final 1:15 of the period pulled Houston back within 22-21.