Anthony P. Bolante / Reuters

Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson walks past interim head coach Chris Ford during the 76ers' win Thursday. Ford kept Iverson out of the starting lineup in the previous game because he missed a practice.

updated 1:35 p.m. ET Feb. 20, 2004

SEATTLE - Allen Iverson made up for a little lost time in his return to Philadelphia’s starting lineup.

Iverson scored 40 points — 17 on free throws — to help the 76ers beat Seattle 112-101 in a foul-filled game Thursday night.

New Sixers coach Chris Ford kept Iverson out of the starting lineup Tuesday night in a loss to Denver after the star guard missed a practice after the All-Star break.

“I was just trying to be aggressive out there,” Iverson said. “I didn’t have my jumper, but once you get to the line that many times you get a chance to get your rhythm for your jumper. That’s what happened tonight.”

In the first quarter, Iverson made only one of his four shots from the field, but scored eight points at the line.

Glenn Robinson added 26 points, and Willie Green had 10 to help the Sixers snap a five-game road losing streak.

“It was a big win for us,” Robinson said. “We’re at a point where we have to play with a lot of urgency.”

While Iverson put on a show with his third 40-point performance of the season, the referees who took center stage.

The teams were called for 57 fouls, with Philadelphia making 28 of 34 free throws, and Seattle going 33-of-39.

“We had the advantage early as far as getting to the foul line,” Ford said. “But in the third quarter it kind of balanced itself out. We hung tough. They made a great run at us. We bent a little bit, but we didn’t break.”

Sonics coach Nate McMillan was upset with the officiating.

“There were some calls. I thought Allen (Iverson) was screaming and yelling and trying to bait the officials to get some calls. The officials said he was getting hit,” McMillan said.

“They have the whistles and they make the calls. We’ll look and see how those calls went, and if there was something unfair then we’ll send it to the league.”

Iverson, 17-of-21 from the line, said they were making the right calls.

“I was getting fouled, and fortunately I was getting the calls. They were banging me when I was going to the basket,” Iverson said. “I made a conscious effort from the beginning of the game to go to the hole.”

Ray Allen led the Sonics with 31 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Ronald Murray had 14 points, Rashard Lewis added 13, and Vladimir Radmanovic had 11.

Seattle has lost eight of its last 11 games and has not won consecutive games since late January.

Allen’s 3-pointer with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter cut the Sixers’ lead to 105-98, but Seattle couldn’t close the gap.

Notes: The Sixers are 2-1 under Ford. ... The teams split the season series. The Sonics have not swept the Sixers since 1997-98, although Seattle did win the sole meeting in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. ... Philadelphia made 20 of 24 free throws in the first half. ... Seattle made all 12 free-throw attempts in the third quarter, and 26 straight in the second half.

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