PHILADELPHIA With Allen Iverson sidelined by injury, defensive sensation Dikembe Mutombo went on the offensive as the Philadelphia 76ers clinched their first Atlantic division title in 11 years with a 96-88 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

Mutombo, a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, scored a season-high 27 points and added 13 rebounds and five blocked shots in the Sixers' milestone win.

Philadelphia improved to 53-23 -- the best record in the Eastern Conference -- and captured their first division title since 1990 when Charles Barkley led the team.

"The progress we have made has been pretty darn good," said Sixers Coach Larry Brown, who took over a 22-60 team four years ago. "It's a terrific feeling. We accomplished a lot."

Iverson, who is leading the league in scoring and steals, sat out his second straight game with tailbone and hip ailments, forcing his teammates to pick up the slack.

Eric Snow scored 15 points and Jumaine Jones added 13 for Philadelphia, which had five players in double figures in scoring and four in double digits in rebounding.

The Sixers also were without Aaron McKie, who sat out with a sprained knee, and lost center Matt Geiger for the second half to a swollen knee.

"That's how it's been all season, different lineups, guys out, not knowing who's gonna play, where we were gonna get our offense from," snow said. "But some way, we just gutted it out. That's what we've been about all season long."

(Reuter)