It seemed sacred, like a nun putting on her habit or Josh McDaniels donning his hoodie.
On Monday at 6 p.m. sharp, Allen Iverson slipped on a Philadelphia 76ers jersey — No. 3, of course — while surrounded at his locker by a semicircle of stalking scribes, shutter-snapping photographers and one invisible 7-footer.
“I’ve never had that happen before,” said Colorado native Jason Smith, a 76ers forward, squeezed at his locker next to Iverson’s. “It’s definitely an experience of its own, and I’m just kind of taking it in.”
In his first game back home, the 76ers legend and former Nugget scored 11 points and had six assists, but Denver spoiled the homecoming, winning 93-83 because of an Iverson-like offensive explosion in the fourth quarter.
Iverson, one could argue, has crawled home — an aging legend seeking solace somewhere, anywhere. But if you heard the roar of Monday’s crowd during player introductions, you would believe the one fan’s homemade sign, “The Prodigal Son Has Returned.”
“That was the best part of the night, hearing these people’s voices all over again,” said Iverson, who was 4-for-11 from the field in 38 minutes. “It was bittersweet because I wanted to win so bad, regardless of if I played well or not, but we just got beat by a better team.”
The better team is playing like the best team, quite frankly.
Since an inexplicable home loss to the Timberwolves, the Nuggets (16-5) have won four straight — scoring a season-high 135 points against the Warriors, extinguishing the Heat, snatching a road win against the Spurs and, Monday, overcoming the first three quarters against the 76ers, during which Denver shot 30.5 percent.
After those three quarters, the visitors trailed 65-63, but then unconsciously hit 11 of its first 12 shots in the fourth, thanks to a strategic three-
guard, 3-ball lineup featuring J.R. Smith, Ty Lawson and Chauncey Billups.
Billups, who was traded for Iverson 13 months ago, tied Andre Iguodala for a game-high 31 points, along with eight rebounds and eight assists. From the line (11-for-11) or beyond the arc (4-for-6), Billups fired as if he was at one of those bar-room pop-o-shots machines.
“I was just being aggressive,” Billups said. “Melo was having a tough time scoring the ball, and somebody had to step up and have a big night.”
Oh, yes, Melo. The MVP candidate was MIA. Carmelo Anthony finished with just 14 points — less than half his average — while shooting 5-for-21 from the field. After the game, Anthony slipped out of the locker room without talking to reporters, a rarity for the normally cordial star.
But Denver showed it can win even when Melo is not Melo.
As for Philly’s tarnished star, Iverson admitted he was fatigued, something Denver coach George Karl noticed from the opposing bench. Iverson had not played in nearly a month after his falling-out with the Grizzlies, which followed his falling-out with the Pistons the previous season. Iverson still thinks he can start in this league, and gosh darn it, the 76ers (or 5-and-16ers) will let him.
“I want A.I. back playing basketball and having that bounce and energy that over the years has been amazing,” Karl said. “My worry is how he accepts his role. I don’t know if I’m the president of Philadelphia, if I want A.I. to play 40 minutes a game. They have too many young players who need to grow up.
“So can A.I. play 30 minutes and mentor? I think A.I. has great basketball IQ, great basketball knowledge, great basketball stories. But will he give them to Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, to the team as a captain and a leader? Or will he fight that he wants to be on the court more? This is the period of his life he should be celebrating the game, enjoying the game and thanking the game — rather than fighting the game.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
