Allen Iverson 48pts vs Michael Redd the Bucks 04/05 NBA

Allen Iverson looked like he might be on his way to another career game when he put up 45 points in the first three quarters against his favorite foils, the Milwaukee Bucks.

After a quiet fourth quarter, Iverson settled for 48 points and leading Philadelphia to a 118-111 victory Tuesday night over the Bucks, who have been burned for three straight games of at least 40 points by the 76ers All-Star.

"Honestly, they play me one-on-one, straight up," Iverson said of a Bucks' defense he penetrated at will. "Except in the last quarter. I guess they felt like they had to do something."

By then, it was too late.

Iverson reached 40 points against the Bucks for the sixth time in his career, his most against any opponent. He had 40 and 54 points in his previous two games versus Milwaukee.

"AI has our number," said Mo Williams who drew the difficult task of trying to stop Iverson. "He seems to play really, really well against us."

He got off to a fast start in this one, scoring 20 in the first quarter.

"He was just on fire," Williams said after watching Iverson make 18-of-30 shots, including five 3-pointers. "He was in such a good rhythm that really nobody could stop him tonight."

Sixers coach Jim O'Brien could only agree after Philadelphia beat the Bucks for the third time this season.

"It was the quickest 40 points I think I have ever witnessed," O'Brien said. "He was spectacular."

Kyle Korver had 20 points and Chris Webber added 15 before fouling out with 2:02 left in the game as the Sixers snapped a three-game losing streak and won with Webber for the first time.

Michael Redd had 35 points, Desmond Mason added 28 and Williams 22 and nine assists and three steals for Milwaukee, which had won six of seven at home.

Iverson had a career-high and NBA season-high of 60 points set against Orlando on Feb. 12 and seemed set to surpass before coming up with just one 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks made a game of it in the fourth by making 16-of-18 free throws and getting 10 points from Mason and nine from Redd.

"When he gives you 48 points in three quarters, it's amazing," Webber said. "I've seen him go off like that before, but it's always been against me. It was fun to pump him up and talk to him to keep him going.

The Sixers (27-29) pulled to 1½ games behind Atlantic Division-leading Boston in Webber's second game since being traded by Sacramento just before the deadline.

"It was just important to get the first win with Chris," Iverson said. "The first game bothered him a lot."

In his Sixers' debut on Saturday, Webber had 16 points, 11 rebounds and three steals, but missed a last-second layup in a 101-99 home loss against the Kings.

Iverson, who had eight assists and four steals, took only three shots in the fourth.

Milwaukee opened the quarter with a 15-6 run and pulled to 102-93 on two free throws by Mason with 7:12 left in the game. Iverson missed his first shot of the quarter just before Korver hit a 3-pointer that pushed the lead back to 10 points.

Webber fouled out when he bumped Redd in the backcourt. Redd made the two free throws to get the Bucks to 114-107. The Bucks never got closer than seven the rest of the way.

Korver hit a 3-pointer to start a 20-6 run in the third quarter, highlighted by Iverson's three 3-pointers. The Sixers opened a 91-71 lead with 2:00 left in the third.

Iverson was great from the tip, darting through the Bucks and taking advantage of Williams on the defensive end. Iverson was 9-of-13 from the floor and hit eight consecutive shots to help the Sixers take a 36-33 after one.

Iverson had 10 points in the second quarter on four driving layups and two free throws.

Iverson also turned in some tough defense, taking a charge from Mason. Iverson, flat on his back, watched as the Bucks coach Terry Porter was called for a technical on the play.

Mason had 18 points for the Bucks in the first half, including a three-point play just before the half that cut the Sixers' lead to 65-58.