Iverson and 76ers Force the Issue With Celtics

PHILADELPHIA — Allen Iverson wouldn’t stop himself, and neither could the Boston Celtics.

After missing 17 of 20 shots, Iverson scored Philadelphia’s final eight points, including a go-ahead 14-footer with 22.6 seconds left that lifted the 76ers to an 83-81 victory over Boston, forcing a decisive Game 5 in their first-round series.

Game 5 is Friday at Boston. The 76ers, the defending Eastern Conference champions, are trying to become the seventh team in NBA history to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games.

Iverson finished with 28 points.

“The only person that can stop me is me,” Iverson said. “I felt I got good shots, open jumpers, shots I can make, but I didn’t make them. I know how to play through struggles now. I know how to miss 10 shots and keep fighting and feel like I can make the next one.”

Antoine Walker scored all 25 of his points in the first three quarters, and Paul Pierce had 20 for the Celtics.

“We had an opportunity to close them out,” Walker said. “We have to make sure what we worked for all season pays off and come up with a big win Friday.”