NBA Roundup

Sunday, March 16th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) _ Allen Iverson hit a go-ahead layup with just over a minute remaining, and the Philadelphia 76ers moved within a half-game of first place in the Atlantic Division with a 92-87 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday.

Iverson finished with 31 points and the 76ers held the Nets without a basket for the final 8:56 in winning for the 14th time in 16 games since the All-Star break.

Eric Snow added 21 points, including three free throws in the final 15 seconds, in helping Philadelphia rally from a 13-point second-half deficit to beat the Nets for the second time since Feb. 16.

Jason Kidd had 23 points to lead the Nets, who missed their final 12 shots and had at least five turnovers in the final 8:56.

Grizzlies 124, Hawks 92

In Memphis, Tennessee, Pau Gasol and Shane Battier scored 22 points each as the Memphis Grizzlies set franchise records with their sixth straight win and their 24th victory, over the Atlanta Hawks.

Battier's 22 points were a season high, while Stromile Swift had his sixth straight double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Lorenzen Wright, who returned after missing seven games because of the death of his infant daughter, had 21 points. Wesley Person added 14 and Jason Williams had 11 points and nine assists.

Atlanta was led by Glenn Robinson with 23 points and Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Jason Terry with 20 each.

Mavericks 129, Kings 123, OT

In Sacramento, California, Steve Nash hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left in regulation, then scored 12 points in overtime as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Sacramento Kings.

Nash finished with 27 points and 10 assists as the Mavericks got their league-high 50th victory of the season _ and one of the most important wins of their impressive campaign.

Dirk Nowitzki had 34 points and 18 rebounds, and Michael Finley scored 21 points as the Mavericks displayed all of the poise and execution many doubted they could produce against the veteran Kings.

Peja Stojakovic scored 30 points for the Kings, who were going after their first season sweep of Dallas since 1997-98. Chris Webber had 24 points _ just seven after halftime _ along with 15 rebounds and nine assists.

Cavaliers 122, Jazz 95

In Cleveland, Ricky Davis scored 28 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a seven-game losing streak with a victory over the Utah Jazz.

Davis also had a career-high 12 assists and was within one rebound of his first triple-double as the Cavaliers won for just the second time in 15 games.

After the Jazz scored with six seconds left, Davis took an inbounds pass and was ready to attempt a shot at the wrong basket to get his 10th rebound. Utah's DeShawn Stevenson wrapped his arms around Davis before the attempt and was whistled for a foul. Davis made the two free throws to complete the scoring.

Jumaine Jones scored 23 points and Milt Palacio added a career-high 20 for the Cavaliers.

Mark Jackson of the Jazz overtook Magic Johnson for second place on the NBA's career assist list. Jackson set up a 22-foot baseline jumper by Calbert Cheaney with 8:35 remaining for his 10,142nd assist and fifth of the game.

Timberwolves 111, Trail Blazers 95

In Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had his fifth triple-double of the season and Wally Szczerbiak scored 20 points, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Garnett finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the Timberwolves, who had lost their previous two games.

Minnesota gained ground on the Blazers for the fourth playoff spot in the Western Conference and home-court advantage. Portland entered the game with a 1 1/2-game lead on the Timberwolves.

Minnesota's Joe Smith, who started in place of injured Rasho Nesterovic, scored 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Nesterovic missed his first game of the season after spraining his right ankle in Friday's loss to the Lakers.