PHILADELPHIA -- The 76ers fans came to celebrate Allen Iversons No. Kevin Gausman Jersey . 3. Trevor Ariza left them talkin about 40. Ariza made eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 40 points to help the Washington Wizards win their sixth straight game, 122-103 over Philadelphia on Saturday night. Ariza made all six 3-point attempts in the first quarter for 24 points and finished 14 of 23 from the floor overall. The 76ers lost their 13th straight game on the night they retired Iversons No. 3. Iverson had his number sent to the rafters, fit between Maurice Cheeks No. 10 and Charles Barkleys No. 34. The Sixers even gave him a boat named, "The Answer." The Sixers enjoyed their first sellout of 20,856 for Iversons triumphant homecoming. The fans, though, saw the same old sorry Sixers. Ariza had his milestone game in front of one of his childhood favourites. "What he brought to the game made me love the game the way I love it," he said. "He was amazing for a lot of years and he definitely changed the culture of the NBA. This was his night and, I guess, thats definitely a thanks for all the things hes done throughout my life and my career. "Just being a fan of his since I was young, its great to be able to perform that way on a big night like that for him." Ariza had plenty of help for a Wizards team making a run in the Eastern Conference. John Wall had 17 points and tied a career high with 16 assists, and Marcin Gortat had 13 points and 14 rebounds. Ariza, averaging 14.3 points, seemed like he would top his career high of 33 in the first 12 minutes. The Sixers were helpless as the 6-foot-8 forward made his 3-point shots with the ease of a pop-a-shot contest. With the building buzzing over Iversons retirement ceremony, Ariza silenced them at stretches with six 3s and 9 of 10 shooting overall, helping the Wizards storm out to a 15-point lead. Wall had the assist on most of those looks and finished the quarter with eight. "What more can you ask than a guy who wants to see you succeed," Ariza said. "I feel like thats what we do here now; we all want to see each other succeed." The fans were mostly distracted by the parade of former greats the Sixers trotted out for Iversons big night. They went wild for Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and former team president Pat Croce. But they came for the global superstar who popularized "talkin about practice." The Sixers may as well have turned the arena into an AI museum. Four banners greeted fans at the main concourse entrance, and photos of him were plastered all around the arena. The merchandise stands sold Iverson jerseys for $130, and lower level tickets were going for as much for $1,280 on Stubhub about an hour before the 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The fans loved him, and he blew them kisses after the No. 3 was raised to show how much he loved them back. "I am Philly," Iverson said. "Its always going to be that way." Wall, who had his 22nd double-double, returned to the court at halftime to record Iversons ceremony. "He was my role model and I looked up to him," he said. "Being a small guard, thats where I took a lot of my game from. This city embraced him and let him be who he was as a person. He always gave his best effort. "I always wanted to grow braids like Iverson. The only thing I didnt have was the tattoos." Iversons return injected a rare dose of excitement into a franchise playing some of the worst basketball in the league. The Sixers, in full-blown rebuilding mode, lost their 12th straight home game. The Wizards made some history as well, scoring a Wells Fargo Center record 74 points in the first half and led by 12. Perhaps fueled by Iversons ceremony, the Sixers went on a 9-0 run in the third to trim the gap to 12 points. It just wasnt enough and the Sixers allowed 100-plus points for the 13th straight game. Tony Wroten led the Sixers with 19 points and Thaddeus Young had 17. Coach Brett Brown didnt hesitate when asked if he wondered if the Sixers would win another game. "All the time," he said. Notes: Arizas previous career best was at Houston on Oct. 31, 2009. ... Trevor Booker had 14 points and Bradley Beal 11, giving the Wizards five starters in double figures. ... Ariza also had four steals. ... Phillies OF Marlon Byrd wore Iversons No. 3 during spring training batting practice. 23:21ET 01-03-14 Kevin Gausman Authentic Jersey . The Missouri Tigers Defensive End and SEC Defensive player of the year is eligible for the upcoming NFL draft in May. Nelson Cruz Orioles Jersey . Midfielder Michael Bradley, one of the teams new designated players, will make his debut, while striker Gilberto could see his first action for TFC in the contest.PORTLAND, Ore. -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim. With the final buzzer about to sound, he took his shot. "I got my feet squared up and it felt real good leaving my hands," Portlands point guard said. "Once I saw it on line, I said, Thats got a chance." Lillards shot fell and the Trail Blazers stunned the Houston Rockets 99-98 to take their playoff series in six games and advance to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time in 14 years. In the frenzied postgame celebration, Lillard took the public address microphone and shouted "Rip City!" The hometown crowd roared. Portland, making its first playoff appearance since 2011, had been eliminated in the first round in its last six trips, and hadnt advanced to the second round since 2000. "Its a great feeling," said fellow guard Wesley Matthews. "Im excited for Portland, of course excited for us. The grind of the season: Youre a competitor, you want to win, you want to play, you want to advance, you want to be a champion. ... Its unbelievable." Dwight Howard made four consecutive free throws to tie the game at 91 before making a bank shot that put Houston ahead with 3:04 to go. Robin Lopez scored on a tip shot to give the Blazers a 94-93 lead with 2:15 left, setting up a wild finish. Howards layup and foul shot put the Rockets back up 96-94 before Nicolas Batums fadeaway jumper tied it again with 39.9 seconds left. Chandler Parsons scored on a reverse layup with 0.9 seconds left to give Houston the lead. Lillard prevented the series from going back to Houston with his 3-pointer as time ran out. He finished with 25 points. The Trail Blazers said Lillard is the first player to make a buzzer-beating shot to win a playoff series since John Stocktons 3 that led Utah over Houston in 1997s Western Conference finals, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. "He made a hell of a shot," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said of Lillard. Portland will face the winner of the series between San Antonio and Dallas. The Mavericks forced a deciding Game 7 with a 113-111 victory over the Spurs on Friday night. There are five first-round playoff series that have gone to seven games. Nelson Cruz Jersey. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 30 points and 13 rebounds. He averaged 29.8 points during the series. After losing the opening two games in Houston, then claiming one of a pair in Portland, the Rockets staved off elimination with a 108-98 victory on Wednesday night to narrow Portlands advantage in the series to 3-2. Howard had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Jeremy Lin redeemed himself from a poor performance in Game 4 with 21 points off the bench. James Harden led the Rockets on Friday night with 34 points. Howard had 26 points and 11 rebounds as Houston -- which earned the nickname "Clutch City" back in the mid-1990s when the team won back-to-back NBA championships -- failed to become the ninth team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series and advance. "It hurts," Howard said. "When you put everything youve got on the floor and somebody hits you with a dagger like that, its a tough pill to swallow." After Lillards 3, Howard went over to congratulate his friend and told him he was proud of him and to go win the title. Aldridge helped the Blazers steal the first two games in Houston, scoring 46 points in a 122-120 overtime Game 1 win, then 43 in a 112-105 victory. The Rockets claimed the first of two in Portland, 121-116 in overtime, led by Harden with 37 points. The series third OT game ended in a 123-120 Blazers win. Aldridge gave the Rockets credit for making the Blazers better. "We felt like they definitely helped us grow. Were so young in the playoffs, but they definitely helped us grow and we feel we should be better for the next round," Aldridge said. "Were happy now, but were not satisfied." NOTES: The Blazers honoured former coach Jack Ramsay, who led the team to its lone NBA championship in 1977, in a moving pregame ceremony. Ramsay died Monday after a long battle with cancer in Florida. ... A fan at the game held a sign reading: "Play like its 1977." ... Lillard has multiple 3-pointers in six straight playoff games, a franchise record. ... It was the first time that the Blazers had defeated Houston in the post-season after three previous meetings. cheap jerseys from china cheap jerseys ' ' '
