Iverson Back Tonight

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The 76ers have been in a bit of a tailspin lately, having lost seven of their last eight games. They've dropped four straight without star guard Allen Iverson, who was out with a right foot sprain.

They went 0-3 on their recent three-game Western Conference swing, losing 98-89 to Golden State Sunday in the final game of the trip. They dropped to 31-35 overall, falling four games below .500 for the first time this season.

The good news is Iverson plans to be back in the lineup tonight when the Sixers host Atlanta, perhaps just in the nick of time.

"I don't know if it's just in time, but I'm glad I'm able to come back and try to help," Iverson said after Tuesday's practice. "Just watching all those games, just seeing different times in the games and different situations that I could have helped our team maybe get over the hump. I saw them do some great things and hopefully guys will continue to play the way they've been playing since I've been out."

Iverson said he's "100 percent sure" he'll play unless something crazy were to happen Tuesday night to set him back.

"But right now just practicing two hours and getting up and down the court I felt good," he said. "Right now it's a little sore, but I expected that. It's been tough. I think it would be a lot better if we were losing games and I was playing. But just to have to watch and not be able to do anything about it, that was the toughest part of it all. I don't know what percentage (I am), but I know I'm healthy enough to be able to go out there and help my teammates."

Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks couldn't have been happier to see Iverson practicing Tuesday -- in addition to having Iverson back in the starting lineup. Cheeks also expects to move point guard Kevin Ollie back into the starting lineup tonight in place of John Salmons, who missed Tuesday's practice with a left hamstring strain.

"I've never been so glad to see No. 3," Cheeks said. "He looked good. He was running up and down the floor, he was energized, he just kind of energized everybody out there. I think everyone was glad to see him out there and he looked good."

Cheeks expects Iverson to play the way he's always played. He says Iverson is one of the few players that when he's been injured, he's been able to return to form.

"When he got hurt in Memphis (on March 12) he was playing at a high level in the first half," Cheeks said. "We just need him. We need him out there, we need his energy and certainly we need the way he's capable of putting points on the board."</div>

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