Philadelphia ? Just when Allen Iverson put some controversy behind him, a familiar face could be peeking around the postseason corner ready to stir up some mixed feelings.

Then again, with the way Iverson is playing, perhaps an emotional reunion with his former coach may be delayed.

Iverson had 39 points and 12 assists, and Kyle Korver scored 19 points to lead the 76ers back into the postseason for the first time in two years with a 122-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.

“I feel like myself and my teammates … we are a playoff team,” Iverson said. “We believed that all year. We believed in each other. We stuck with each other in good times and bad times, and we never pointed fingers at each other.”

The Sixers blew a chance to clinch a playoff spot a day earlier by losing in New Jersey, but they didn’t waste this opportunity. They raced to a 22-point lead and won for the seventh time in nine games and 10th in the last 15 — a fantastic finish for a team that seemed headed toward the lottery about six weeks ago.

Philadelphia (42-39) can finish, sixth, seventh or eighth in the Eastern Conference depending on how Indiana, fading Cleveland and streaking New Jersey fare in their final games. If Chicago beats the Pacers on Wednesday and the Sixers beat Atlanta, Philadelphia would earn the No. 6 seed.

“We had to act like we wanted to get in,” Iverson said. “We had to play this game as hard as we could. I was telling my teammates, ‘After this game, you should really be tired because you should leave everything out there.’ This game had a lot on the line.”

Playoff fever hasn’t exactly gripped the city. Competing with a Mets-Phillies game across the street, there were plenty of empty pockets of seats in the lower level and upper deck. Maybe the possible return of former coach Larry Brown — with whom Iverson famously feuded — will the give the Sixers some juice on the local sports scene.

The Sixers would play second-seeded Detroit, the defending champion, if the standings remained the same.

“It doesn’t matter, regardless of who we start out with,” Iverson said.

Philadelphia's Allen Iverson, right, shoots over Milwaukee's Maurice Williams in the first half of the 76ers' 122-106 victory. The 76ers won Monday in Philadelphia.

Chris Webber had 18 points, and Andre Iguodala added 15 for the Sixers.

Not even 21 points and 20 rebounds from Dan Gadzuric could help the Bucks. Desmond Mason scored 22 points.

After finishing 33-49 and out of the playoffs for the first time since the 1997-98 season, the Sixers hired coach Jim O’Brien, got outstanding seasons from their young nucleus of Korver, Samuel Dalembert and Iguodola and traded for Webber in February.

They also got a healthy, happy Iverson. While Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal will probably garner most of the MVP votes, Iverson has certainly made a case with one of the best seasons of his nine-year career.

“These are the results,” Iverson said. “It all paid off.”

Iverson averaged 45.3 points in four games against the Bucks.

“We had no answer for Allen,” Mason said. “He played well and hurt us again. When he’s going well, they’re a tough team.”

Grizzlies 94, Spurs 92

Memphis, Tenn. — Mike Miller scored 28 points, including a 22-footer at the buzzer, and Memphis’ victory ensured Phoenix will finish with the best record in the Western Conference. The Suns will have homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. Miller’s final shot came from the right wing after the Grizzlies inbounded the ball with 1.4 seconds left. Officials discussed the matter at midcourt for about five minutes before referee Steve Javie came to the scorer’s table and ruled the basket good. Memphis coach Mike Fratello said after the game the clock started before Jason Williams inbounded the ball, and the officials ruled Miller would have gotten the ball off on a catch-and-shoot before the horn sounded if not for the inadvertent clock start.

Magic 92, Pacers 88

Orlando, Fla. — Steve Francis scored 24 points, including a big jumper with 10 seconds to play, as Orlando snapped a seven-game losing streak. DeShawn Stevenson added 18 points, and rookie Dwight Howard had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Magic.

Timberwolves 102, Hornets 99

New Orleans — Wally Szczerbiak scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead Minnesota’s comeback victory. Sam Cassell scored 16 points, and Kevin Garnett had 14 as Minnesota handed New Orleans its eighth straight loss, one that guaranteed the Hornets (18-63) could do no better than tie the franchise’s all-time worst record.

Rockets 115, Clippers 90

Houston — Yao Ming had 24 points, and Tracy McGrady added 16 points and 10 assists to lead Houston to its sixth straight victory, one that gave the Rockets their sixth 50-victory season and the first since 1996-97. The Rockets scored a season-high 40 points in the first quarter on 76 percent shooting (16-of-21).