76ers Start Fast, Spoil Knicks' Home Opener in OT

Philadelphia 76ers' Andre Iguodala (9) shoots over New York Knicks' Wilson Chandler (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

(AP)

Andre Iguodala scored 32 points, including the go-ahead three-point play in overtime, and the Philadelphia 76ers blew a 23-point lead before beating the New York Knicks 141-127 on Saturday night.

Lou Williams added 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the 76ers, who seemed headed for a quick knockout in the undercard bout on the Philadelphia-New York weekend card. Instead, they barely held on at the end after a furious Knicks rally ended with an overtime loss for the second time in two nights.

Al Harrington responded to a demotion with a career-high 42 points, but fouled out with the Knicks leading by three in overtime. Danilo Gallinari, who replaced him in the lineup, finished with a career-best 30.

Thaddeus Young scored 25 for the Sixers, who made 16 of 22 shots in the first quarter, rang up 70 points in the first half, and shot 61 percent in their second victory in two nights.

Somehow it ended up being a difficult one. New York scored 41 points in the fourth and 71 in the second half but dropped to 0-3, its worst start since losing its first five under Larry Brown in 2005-06.

Marreese Speights, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds, made two free throws on the play that fouled out Harrington with 3 1/2 minutes remaining in overtime. Iguodala followed with his three-point play that gave Philadelphia a 129-127, and the deflated Knicks were soon down double digits again.

The Knicks' home opener — which briefly included ex-Knick Stephon Marbury in a courtside seat — was clearly the JV game on the weekend of matchups between Philadelphia and New York teams. The Phillies hosted the Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday night, and the Giants visit the Eagles in an NFC East contest on Sunday.

It ended up as a Halloween thriller with the 76ers beating the Knicks for the sixth straight time, their longest winning streak in the series since taking eight in a row in the mid-1980s.