Iverson scored 45 points and handed out 11 assists and Samuel Dalembert came up big in the fourth quarter as the Philadelphia 76ers posted a 106-98 victory over the Miami Heat.

NBA TV highlights from Heat-Sixers: 300k

While Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade are the league's top-scoring tandem and have led the Heat to the Eastern Conference's best record, the Sixers' success relies squarely on the shoulders of the 6-foot Iverson.

Iverson, the NBA's leading scorer, reached the 40-point plateau for the fifth time this season and 55th time in his career. He scored 29 points in the first half, then was quiet in the third quarter before coming up big late in the final period.

"The whole thing coming in was about winning the game," Iverson said. "That's all that I thought about, come out, do my part, and get the win. I played well and my teammates played great." After a pair of blocks by the 6-11 Dalembert, Iverson finished a fast break with a driving layup for a 94-87 lead with 3:36 remaining.

Iverson, who was a game-time decision with a hip injury, converted a three-point play with 42 seconds left to push the lead to 102-93, then made four free throws over the final 37 seconds.

In the latest big game for one of the NBA's toughest players, Iverson made 13-of-30 shots and 18-of-19 free throws. "People think that free throws are easy because it's a free shot," said Iverson, who is 33-of-34 at the line in the last two games. "But that is what makes it hard because you don't have (anybody) contesting it, it's just you all by yourself." "I like to look more at the 11 assists and one turnover," Sixers coach Jim O'Brien said. "He not only scores, but he gets others easy looks. He was spectacular. Those stats were beyond belief."

Heat forward Eddie Jones thought Iverson's start was the key. "I think early on, he got his confidence going by making his first three or four shots," Jones said. "It's tough to control him from that point."

Dalembert, the subject of trade rumors, played tough interior defense on O'Neal in the fourth quarter and also scored half of his 16 points in the final period. He finished with 11 rebounds.

"It makes me feel like coach (Jim O'Brien) has more confidence in me" said Dalembert, who has consecutive double-doubles. "I go out there and keep building on it proving myself to my teammates and coaches that I can get the job done."

"I thought he did a nice job of keeping his body away from Shaq," O'Brien said. "We talked before hand. You can't let Shaq get behind him and I thought Sammy really moved his feet. Not only that, but made sure Shaq had to run on defense because Sammy was beating him up court and it really forced Shaq to run."

Sharpshooter Kyle Korver's 3-pointer with 6:09 left snapped an 85-85 tie and sparked a decisive 14-3 run for the Sixers. He capped the burst with two free throws with 1:35 remaining. Korver netted 14 points and Corliss Williamson added 12 for the Sixers, who won for the third time in four games. Philadelphia (19-21) leads the weak Atlantic Division where every team is under .500.

O'Neal scored 24 points and Wade had 17 and 11 assists for Miami (30-13), which lost for just the fourth time in 25 games against an Eastern Conference foe. "We have to do a better job down the stretch" Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said.