Once they decide if they want Iverson -- and if Sixers chairman Ed Snider gives the OK -- the Sixers would have to work out a contract with Iverson for the remainder of the season. They'd also have to figure out beforehand what happens when Williams comes back in mid-January, assuming Iverson would start at guard in the meantime. Would Iverson be willing to come off the bench -- unlike in Memphis, where he was waived after three games in a reserve role and a leave of absence -- or insist on remaining in the first five?

Head coach Eddie Jordan said at Sunday's morning shootaround that he hadn't "talked to anybody about Allen Iverson," only to admit there have been internal discussions about Iverson before that evening's 97-89 loss to the Spurs.

Iverson, 34, spent his first 10 1/2 NBA seasons with the Sixers, earning league MVP and all-star game MVP honors for the 2000-01 Eastern Conference champions. He holds the highest career scoring average in Sixers history (28.1 points).

Iverson played the next 2 1/2 years for the Nuggets and Pistons.

SPURS 97, SIXERS 89: The Sixers slipped to 5-12 with their sixth straight loss. They were again hurt by their perimeter defense as San Antonio went 10-for-18 (.556) from the three-point line in the first game of a four-game road trip that continues Monday in Dallas. The shorthanded Sixers' reserves were outscored 49-15, and Philly went 35-for-89 (.393) from the floor.