LAKERS INSIDE LOOK: L.A. BAFFLED BY IVERSON.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

Just when the Lakers thought they'd found an answer for the Answer, he riddled them.

Allen Iverson, the regular-season MVP who'd been made largely silent in the second half by Tyronn Lue, hit two critical shots in overtime as the Philadelphia 76ers shocked the Lakers, 107-101, on Wednesday in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Iverson may have been the smallest man on the court but nobody loomed larger.

Iverson, who left the court for only a few seconds at the end of the half, scored 48 points, handed out six assists, had five steals and even grabbed five rebounds for the Sixers.

Iverson, who celebrates his 26th birthday today, made his biggest plays at the end. After the Sixers had cut the Lakers lead from 99-96 on Raja Bell's finger roll, Iverson sank two free throws with 1:46 left to cut the deficit to 99-98.

He then sank a long 3-pointer to put the Sixers ahead, 101-99 with 1:19 left and after a Laker turnover, he shook loose from Lue and hit a step- back jumper on the basleline to give the Sixers a 103-99 lead with 48.2 left.

``We put so much responsibility on Allen,''Larry Brown said. ``I thought he was incredible.''

The Lakers had 10 days to figure a way to stop Iverson, but they needed 29 more minutes on Wednesday. When Lue entered the game with five minutes left in the third quarter, Iverson was making a mockery of Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant and the Sixers were doing the same with the Lakers.

Iverson had scored 38 points at the time and the Sixers led, 73-58.

In the first half, the Sixers repeatedly ran pick and rolls with Iverson but with a wrinkle. Instead of using center Dikembe Mutombo to set the pick, they usually set it with a forward. The Lakers defended it as if they were looking at Karl Malone and John Stockton for the first time.

Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, who took turns trying to defend Iverson, repeatedly got caught up on the pick and Horace Grant and Robert Horry rarely jumped out on Iverson.

The result was plenty of open looks for Iverson. He missed four of his first five shots, but since they were all uncontested it figured to be a matter of time before he started making them.

So, even though the Sixers trailed by 13 midway through the first quarter, it wasn't long before Iverson started heating up. He scored 10 of the Sixers final 14 points in the quarter and had a hand in the other two baskets: a behind the back pass to Eric Snow for a layup and a missed shot that Mutombo dunked.

By the end of the quarter, the Sixers were within 23-22 and in the game for good.

Iverson also closed the end of the second period with a flurry.

He scored the Sixers final 13 points of the half, including the final basket - a 3-pointer that lifted the Sixers to a 56-50 lead at halftime.

Iverson started the second half just as quickly and so did the Sixers.

With Iverson hitting jumpers, it opened up lanes to the basket and neither Bryant nor Fisher had the foot speed to stay with him.

Iverson's driving layup put the Sixers ahead, 68-56, and after Shaquille O'Neal's dunk, he restored the lead with an 18-foot jumper. A moment later, Eric Snow's 3-point play pushed Philadelphia's lead to 15 points and sent Fisher to the bench with his third foul.

In for the first time came Lue, who spent the last 10 days imitating Iverson in practice. On Wednesday, he simply mirrored him.

Lue had the quickness to shadow Iverson and with the Lakers sending Robert Horry, Rick Fox, Horace Grant or Bryant at him, were successful in getting the ball out of Iverson's hands. With Lue overplaying him, Iverson struggled to get it back.

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Photo:

Allen Iverson had no trouble driving past Horace Grant. Kobe Bryant, meanwhile had problems with Philadelphia.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer