Warriors 102, 76ers 98

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Earl Boykins and the Golden State Warriors are playing playoff basketball just to get into the postseason.

Boykins scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed a late offensive rebound as the Warriors won their second straight road game Friday night, beating Philadelphia 102-98.

``This was a huge win for us, especially since we're approaching every game like its a playoff game,'' Boykins said. ``The key was in the first half we got a large lead and hung on.''

The Warriors, 2-1 on their five-game road trip, have 36 victories, more than any season since 1995-96. They're 10th in the Western Conference, 2{ games behind eighth-place Phoenix for the final playoff spot and 1{ games behind ninth-place Houston.

Antawn Jamison had 26 of his 30 points in the first half as Golden State took a 23-point halftime lead, and Gilbert Arenas helped the Warriors close it with five points over the final 1:26.

Boykins and Arenas scored all of Golden State's 15 points in the fourth quarter,

``I've played well in the fourth quarter all year,'' Boykins said. ``It's the most important part of the game.''

Allen Iverson had 28 points and 10 assists for the 76ers, who have lost two in a row at home. Kenny Thomas added a season-high 18 rebounds, and Keith Van Horn had 18 points.

Boykins took advantage of Iverson, who had five fouls.

``Iverson is a great player, the best guard in the league,'' Boykins said. ``He's either going to run you over or you have to go right at him.''

The Sixers fell 1{ games behind New Jersey for first place in the Atlantic Division.

A 3-pointer by Van Horn pulled Philadelphia to 100-98 with 1:18 to go, but Boykins grabbed an offensive rebound and Arenas drove to the basket with 17.7 seconds left to put the Warriors ahead 102-98.

``You get down like that, then you have to fight too hard to get back in the game and you can't finish it off,'' Iverson said. ``When you have to come back like that, then at the end of the game everything has to go perfectly. It doesn't work that way in the NBA.''< ^Notes:@ The Warriors scored 15 of the last 19 points of the second quarter to open up a 66-43 lead at halftime. During that stretch, the Warriors made seven free throws, thanks in part to three Philadelphia technicals, and four fast-break baskets off five straight turnovers. ... Golden State's 66 points were the most given up in a half by the Sixers this season.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)