Terrific. Just what Iverson needed. Another physical affliction.

He entered Game 4 of the Sixers' opening-round playoff with the Charlotte Hornets nursing a painful right elbow, a broken toe, a chipped bone in his right ankle and a sore shoulder.

But much of the discomfort faded from the simple pleasure of watching McKie shoot, will and lead Philadelphia to a 105-99 victory at First Union Center, clinching the first-round playoff series 3-1.

With the win secured, the Sixers await the outcome of the series between Indiana and Milwaukee on Thursday to determine their opponent for the next round.

It was a night full of concern over how the Sixers' backcourt would fare with Iverson hobbling and point guard Eric Snow out altogether with a more severe bone chip injury in his right ankle.

McKie squashed those concerns convincingly.

Content to be a steady, uncelebrated contributor most of the time, he picked this game to emerge as the star.

Twenty-five points. Eleven assists. A run of four consecutive 3-pointers -- one of which included a foul that he converted for a 4-point play -- to wipe out the eight-point lead Charlotte had established early in the fourth quarter.

He offered a characteristically low-key assessment of it all.

Asked if this is the best game he has played, McKie said, "I don't think so. I think I made my shots. I don't judge my play on making shots. I judge my play on making contributions on both ends."

McKie is a born-and-raised Philadelphian who played his college ball at Temple. Without Iverson's majesty, fanfare or controversy, he has endeared himself to the fans willing to take notice.

"I've always thought he was a really underrated player. Just a pro," said Sixers coach Larry Brown. "Does anything he's asked of. Not a surprise, considering where he's from and what he's about."

McKie made possible a set of unlikely scenarios for the Sixers.

That they would win with long-range shooting. That they would win with a backcourt so compromised by injury. That they would be the ones who prevailed when 100 points were needed for the win.

"He has come through for us all season," Snow said. "When Allen went down, George (Lynch), myself, whoever it may be, he's that type of guy.

"He's always going to be there. He's going to be professional. He's going to play hard and do everything he is asked to do. We wouldn't be where we are right now if it wasn't for Aaron McKie."

At their best, the Sixers win by taking some of the burden off Iverson.

Iverson still finished with a team-high 26 points, despite the pain that was so obvious as he clutched his elbow after a running layup just before halftime.

But before McKie started hitting jumpers, Matt Geiger came off the bench to offer an inspiring run of 13 points in the opening half. Geiger's play also featured some tenacious work on the offensive boards.

Even reserve guard Kevin Ollie sent a message with a jumper at the first-quarter buzzer that gave the Sixers a five-point lead.

"We knew Allen was going to make his shots," said Hornets coach Paul Silas. "We didn't count on these other guys."

Once McKie managed to become the leader among Iverson's support group, the rest of the Sixers enjoyed the moment for all it was worth.

"Everybody saw it," Iverson said. "I mean, it feels even better for me. Me and him are much more than teammates. ... He helps me out so much, with so many personal things. ... That is something I'll cherish all my life -- a great basketball player, playing his best."

The Sixers' Aaron McKie drives for a layup and two of his 25 points against the Hornets.(AP)

The Hornets ended a year marred by team trials and tragedies that included the death of teammate Bobby Phills in a car accident.

They left Philadelphia respectful of a team that appeared to play with more urgency.

They certainly ran into one person in particular who played that way.

"He didn't surprise me at all," Hornets guard Eddie Jones said of McKie. "I know if you leave him open, he's going to make the shot ... and we left him open a lot.

"After the game is over, I'm very happy for him."

No one is happier than Iverson. Happy enough to generate goose bumps. Just another physical aberration he had to put up with in this series.

It's a safe bet the goose bumps felt a lot better than the bum ankle, the sore elbow, and the broken toe.