Allen Iverson 38pts 16asts vs Dwyane Wade Shaq Heat 04/05

Allen Iverson again is leading Philadelphia upward in the Eastern Conference standings.

Iverson scored 38 points and had 16 assists, helping the Sixers spoil the return of Shaquille O'Neal and overcome a career-high 48 points from Dwyane Wade with a 126-119 overtime win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

``It's like a do or die situation,'' Iverson said. ``A loss here or there and we could be out of the playoffs. We understand that. It just says a lot about us.''

Marc Jackson scored 26 and Kyle Korver 20 for the Sixers, who won for the fifth time in six games. With Cleveland's 95-89 loss to New York, the Sixers (40-38) moved into a tie for seventh in the East standings. Philadelphia, though, holds the tiebreaker with three wins over the Cavaliers.

The next two games will go a long way toward deciding Philadelphia's fate. They play at Indiana on Friday and at New Jersey on Sunday before ending the season with games against Milwaukee on Monday and Atlanta on Wednesday.

``Playing a lot of games in a few nights, that comes with the territory,'' Jackson said. ``You enjoy those things.''

Wade's career-high in points and 10 rebounds couldn't keep the Heat from losing their season-high third straight game. While the Heat have already wrapped up the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage for the Eastern Conference playoffs, they're stumbling at the finish.

``We had a chance to put them away,'' Wade said. ``They are a team playing for their playoff lives and you could see that tonight.''

O'Neal returned after missing three games with a stomach ailment and viral infection that left him unable to eat for several days. Coach Stan Van Gundy limited O'Neal to 30 minutes in regulation. He scored 13 points and missed two clutch free throws in the final minute of OT.

O'Neal did not talk to reporters after the game.

Andre Iguodala opened overtime with a couple of high-flying dunks, and Iverson stole an inbounds pass and fed Korver for a 3-pointer.

Miami's Damon Jones started complaining to the referees after the play and was whistled for a technical foul. Iverson made the free throw for a 114-106 lead.

``That steal was ridiculous,'' Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``We should be able to get the ball inbounds.''

Jones came down and drilled a 3, then glared at the officials. Trailing by three with a minute left, O'Neal bricked a couple of free throws. Jackson's 18-footer from the left wing gave the Sixers a 118-113 lead and sealed the win.

``When we approach the game mentally the right way, these are the results,'' Iverson said.

The Sixers made 33 of 34 free throws and the Heat went 22-for-24. O'Neal missed eight of 11 attempts.

``He looked like Shaq to me,'' Iverson said, smiling.

O'Neal was a non-factor in the frantic final 1:50 of regulation with each team trading baskets before a boisterous crowd, giving the game a playoff atmosphere.

Wade sandwiched a driving layup and a jumper around Webber's 18-footer, and Iverson tied the game 104-all with a couple of free throws with 11.5 seconds left. Wade was 6-for-9 in the fourth and had a chance to win it in regulation, but his jumper over Iguodala was no good.

``I hit some shots, but missed the one at the end of regulation,'' Wade said. ``I got some good looks at the basket tonight.''

Wade made 18 of 33 field goals and was 10-for-13 from the line. Everywhere Wade was on the floor, he found a way to score.

``He showed he's a different kind of player by shooting the ball the way he did,'' Iverson said. ``Our scouting report said let him shoot jumpers. But it didn't work. He just played great.''

Damon Jones ended the half with consecutive 3-pointers, swishing a runner just past midcourt as time expired for a 61-52 lead.