He caused, as Aaron McKie had predicted, "a commotion." He played for the first time this season, for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in September. He missed 21 of his 28 shots from the floor.

Still, no one would argue that Allen Iverson was clearly the difference in the 76ers' ability to turn back the Dallas Mavericks, 98-91, Saturday night.

The Sixers' lights are back on; the streak is over, long live the streak. This was their first victory after an 0-5 start. This was the one that prevented these Sixers from getting off to the worst start since the notorious 9-73 Sixers of 1972-73 opened with 15 losses.

These Sixers can look ahead to tomorrow night's game in Miami with some of the same steely eyes that helped them win 56 games last season and get to the NBA Finals.

"This was like night and day," Sixers forward Matt Harpring said. "Allen brings a certain sense of energy. This is what I played against last year [before being traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers]."

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