This is why the 76ers cannot be counted out of the Eastern Conference race: Allen Iverson is as unpredictable as our winter weather. Freezing one minute, surprisingly hot the next.
Against the Miami Heat last night, Iverson was 4 for 16 midway through the third quarter. Then something happened. After a driving basket and a trio of free throws, Iverson had the ball on the wing, with his team clinging to a 61-60 lead.

He clipped Heat guard Eddie House on the chin with his elbow, and, with House stunned and grimacing, dropped in a three-pointer. The Sixers never trailed from that point.

It was an ugly 91-79 win at American Airlines Arena, but it was a win nonetheless. Tonight at the First Union Center, the Heat will have a shot at redemption. Surely they will want to take advantage of it.

The Sixers used a 12-0 run to end the third quarter ahead by 66-60, then clobbered the Heat, 17-7, in the final seven minutes of the fourth, thanks in part to Iverson's 10 points in the quarter. He finished 11 for 28 from the floor with 33 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four turnovers as the Sixers improved to 35-31 and maintained their grip on sixth place in the East.