Too often nights like Wednesday turn out to be a disappointment, but the return of Allen Iverson to Philadelphia was nearly perfect.

First, Allen showed up and was terrific in the pre-game interviews, taking the high road on everything. If he was bitter when he was traded he's getting over it.

Then, the crowd reaction to Iverson was tremendous -- a standing ovation that just went on and on. Iverson was clearly moved, though he said afterward he was forcing back the tears because he didn't want to hear it from his teammates. He also greeted Maurice Cheeks, walking down the court before the tip-off to shake hands and hug the man who had once been his friend. The two hadn't talked in 15 months.

Finally, the game itself turned out to be one of the most entertaining of the year -- a high-scoring, up-and-down affair that the Sixers won in the final minute.

The Sixers celebrated afterward as though they'd won something. And maybe they did. Perhaps they're finally establishing themselves as a good team in the post-Iverson era. While they're just 34-34, they are 16-4 in their last 20 games.

This town will always love Iverson, but this team now belongs to Andre Miller, who did what Iverson couldn't, nurturing the young players and helping them become winners.