Philadelphia ? Of all the prolific offensive performances in the opening games of this year’s NBA playoffs, Allen Iverson’s was the best.

Not only that, it was one of the greatest in NBA playoff history

Iverson scored 55 points Sunday night in a brilliant display of shooting, making 21 of 32 shots while eclipsing his previous playoff-high of 54 as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the New Orleans Hornets, 98-90.

“That was his best ever, by far,” Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said.

Iverson scored 20 in the fourth quarter to help his team hang onto the lead throughout the final 12 minutes of a closely contested, physical game.

Iverson joined Michael Jordan, Rick Barry, Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players to score 55 or more in a playoff game. Jordan holds the NBA record of 63.

“When I’m out there on the basketball court in front of 20,000 people, and I’m making shots and they’re into it and jumping up and cheering, that’s when I get the goose bumps from,” Iverson said. “Because I know when these people leave this arena, that might be something they’ll cherish for the rest of their life.”

The fans weren’t the only ones cherishing it.

Iverson’s coach and teammates were in awe, as were the Hornets.

“The only player I’ve ever seen play like that was Michael Jordan,” Derrick Coleman said.

Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson, front, drives past the Hornets' George Lynch in the 76ers' 98-80 victory. Iverson scored 55 points in the game Sunday in Philadelphia.

“It’s right up there with Mike’s 63,” Hornets coach Paul Silas said.

“It was the single-best performance I’ve ever been a part of,” Philadelphia’s Keith Van Horn said.

During the first seven games of the postseason Saturday and earlier Sunday, there was a 46-point performance by Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and a 43-point outing by Orlando’s Tracy McGrady.

Iverson outdid them by a bunch, hitting nearly everything he tossed up with the exception of a stretch of five consecutive misses during the third quarter.

“He must’ve been watching TV all day, watching all those young gunners putting up those numbers — and he had the last game in prime time,” the Sixers’ Aaron McKie said.

Magic 99, Pistons 94

Auburn Hills, Mich. — Tracy McGrady set a team playoff record with 43 points to help Orlando hold off top-seeded Detroit. Six Pistons tried to guard McGrady, who was 15-of-28 from the field and 10-of-12 from the line. He added seven rebounds.

It was a particularly impressive effort considering that Detroit allowed opponents just 87.7 points per game this season. No other team was lower than 90.

Orlando rookie Drew Gooden, from Kansas University, had 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Lakers 117, Timberwolves 98

Minneapolis — Kobe Bryant scored 28 of his 39 points in the first half, and Shaquille O’Neal had 32 points and 10 rebounds to lead the three-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers past Minnesota in Game One of their first-round playoff series.

Kevin Garnett had 23 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, but he couldn’t help the Timberwolves take advantage of the first home-court advantage in their history. Minnesota has been eliminated in the opening round the past six years.

The Lakers, who overcame an 11-19 start to finish with 50 wins and grab the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference, were only 19-22 on the road during the regular season. But in the postseason, Los Angeles has won 17 of its last 19 away from Staples Center.