76ers' Iverson Breaks Left Hand

BOSTON (AP) _ Allen Iverson has a broken left hand and could be out until the playoffs _ if the 76ers get there. <br><br>Iverson is expected to be out 4-6 weeks after breaking bone in his hand in a victory

Saturday, March 23rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BOSTON (AP) _ Allen Iverson has a broken left hand and could be out until the playoffs _ if the 76ers get there.

Iverson is expected to be out 4-6 weeks after breaking bone in his hand in a victory Friday night over the Boston Celtics.

With 26 days left in the 76ers' regular-season schedule, the team that made it to last season's NBA Finals faces the prospect of playing its last 14 regular-season games without him.

``It's really unfortunate. That kid works so hard,'' Eric Snow said. ``We've got to survive, like he'd want us to.''

Iverson broke a bone below the left index finger of his non-shooting hand in the first half. He played all 24 minutes before intermission of Philadelphia's 96-91 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday night.

He then had x-rays at New England Baptist Hospital and missed the rest of the game.

``This gives the rest of our teammates a chance to step up,'' said Derrick Coleman, who had 10 of his 15 points in the second half. ``Pulling together is what the character of our team is all about.''

At 36-32, Philadelphia has the sixth best record in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of Charlotte and Indiana, who are tied for the final two playoff spots. The 76ers lead ninth-place Washington (32-37) by 4 1/2 games

Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said Iverson is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, ``so I'd imagine he's done,'' but added that ``he would shoot with his left hand in a sling.

``He can help me. I know he'll be very supportive and we'll figure it all out.''

Iverson began the season on the injured list after undergoing right elbow surgery on Sept. 25 and the 76ers are 1-7 without him this season. They did OK Friday as Snow had 12 points and Iverson's replacement, Speedy Claxton, added nine in a comeback from a 50-45 halftime deficit.

But it won't be easy to replace a player who averaged 31.5 points before Friday's game. He also leads the NBA with 2.8 steals and 44 minutes per game.

He showed his determination by playing, and excelling, even with the injury.

Iverson apparently was hurt with 7:01 left in the first quarter when he was fouled by Tony Battie and made two free throws that cut Boston's lead to 8-5.

``It was in the first quarter,'' Snow said. ``He was telling me the whole half, `it's broke, it's broke.' He kept saying it. And this was before he hit the two threes'' in the second quarter

``He probably could have fought it out and kept playing, but why? I mean, go out there and make it worse?''

Iverson missed the first five games of the season while coming back from elbow surgery and Philadelphia lost all of them. He came back in the sixth game and the 76ers won their first seven with him.

Iverson led the 76ers in scoring in all but six of the 60 games in which he's played.

``The kid is playing as good as anyone in the league,'' Brown said. ``You just don't replace him. We've all got to do a great job.''