PHILADELPHIA (AP) Glenn Robinson watched Allen Iverson drive to the basket. Then he slid out to the perimeter, took a pass and hit a 3-pointer.

It was only one basket, but it meant a lot to the Philadelphia 76ers.

After years of searching for the perfect scoring complement to Iverson, the Sixers seem to finally have found the answer: the Big Dog.

Robinson, a two-time NBA All-Star, averaged 21.1 points in nine seasons before coming to Philadelphia this summer in a four-team, six-payer trade. He isn't afraid to shoot the ball, which makes him better suited to being Iverson's sidekick than any of the previous players the Sixers have used to fill that role.

``I'm happy as a little kid in a candy store having him on the squad,'' Iverson said. ``He makes it a lot easier for me. He makes it a lot easier for the team.''

In his debut with his new team, Robinson had 15 points, five assists and four rebounds in Philadelphia's 94-83 victory at Portland on Monday night. He was even better Wednesday night, scoring 20 points, including two, key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, but the Sixers lost 106-99 in overtime to New Orleans.

``It's going to take a while,'' Sixers coach Randy Ayers said. ``I don't think just because it's the regular season that chemistry automatically happens.''

Robinson sat out the first three games this season because of an NBA-imposed suspension for a domestic assault and battery conviction. He is playing now with a badly sprained ankle that limits his effectiveness.

Though his off-court behavior stained his character and perhaps supports the notion that he is a selfish player who shoots first and plays defense later, Robinson's willingness to play through pain demonstrates the heart, desire and grittiness for which the Sixers have become known.

``I don't have the lift on my shot that I need and I can't cut like I want to,'' Robinson said. ``I can't explode like I want to, but after missing the first three games, I wanted to be out there. It's not broken, so I'll be out there.''

Robinson joined the Sixers after one season with the hapless Atlanta Hawks. He spent his first eight seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick out of Purdue in the 1994 NBA draft.

Robinson has only been to the playoffs three times, losing in the first round with Milwaukee in 1999 and 2000, and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001, before losing to the Sixers in seven games.

His trade to Philadelphia in July was one of the few positives in a summer in which he was convicted of pushing and threatening his ex-fiancee, sued by the woman and then suspended by the league.

``I'm very happy to be here, to get back on a team that can go to the playoffs, that can make something special happen,'' Robinson said. ``I didn't want to finish my career losing and I feel I have a good chance to win here.''

The Sixers' success will depend largely on how well Robinson and Iverson coexist. Others before him couldn't do it for various reasons.

Jerry Stackhouse didn't adjust; Tim Thomas and Larry Hughes didn't get much of a chance; Toni Kukoc underachieved; Matt Harpring never fit in; and Keith Van Horn faded in the postseason.

``Glenn is just a better player than all those guys,'' Iverson said. ``He's a proven player.''

Robinson welcomes the opportunity. He has experience sharing the ball, having played with All-Stars Ray Allen and Sam Cassell in Milwaukee.

Entering this season, Iverson had averaged 22.8 shots per game throughout his first seven seasons. Robinson averaged 17.9. In the two games they've played together, Iverson has taken 44 shots while Robinson has 33.

``There's a lot of shots out there,'' Robinson said. ``The 20-30 shots Allen takes, that's not all the shots that are out there. There's still 50-60 shots left and you have to be ready. I like the situation because I know what's he's going to do. He has the freedom to penetrate and do whatever he wants out there and we have confidence in him doing it.''