Dwyane Wade scored 25 points and Damon Jones added 17 as the Heat used a second-half surge to remain perfect against the Eastern Conference with a 93-83 victory over the 76ers, who have lost three in a row.
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"That was an old-time Heat game. We won with great defense down the stretch," Van Gundy said. "We dug in and got it done on the glass. We had some guys really step up and make big plays."
It was easier to pick up the defense with the absence of Iverson, a three-time scoring champion and the focal point of Philadelphia's offense who was out with a bruised right elbow suffered Thursday when he banged into a camera. That left the 76ers without his dangerous open-court play and 26.1 points per game.
"You just have to go out and stick with the same game plan," said Sixers guardWillie Green, who made just 1-of-14 shots. "I don't think it a hard adjustment; we're all professionals and we expect to come in and win."
Without their superstar, the Sixers battled their way to a 58-54 lead midway through the third period before the offense sputtered. The Heat closed the quarter with a 15-4 run fueled by seven points from Shaquille O'Neal, who had 19 points and 12 rebounds.
"I've got good shooters and good hustlers around me; that's what makes it easy," O'Neal said. "I have people who are not worried about their stats. It's a good, fun team to be around."
Van Gundy was impressed with Philadelphia's gritty play.
"They were playing a good aggressive game without Iverson and that was commendable on their part," Van Gundy said. "We had to get the ball to their weak side because they were loading up on Shaq and Dwyane, and that's where we stepped up."
Miami took a 67-62 lead into the fourth quarter, where it was carried by Wade, who repeatedly got inside for easy baskets, and Jones, who sank four 3-pointers.
"To get open shots like that is a great feeling," Jones said. "Fortunately, I was able to make a few of them. I got some good looks, and they just started falling."
"He was the big show tonight, no question," Wade said. "He's got so much confidence in his shots, and making those really took the pressure off of Shaq and me. Those are the kind of team efforts we need."
Udonis Haslem had 10 points and 14 boards for the Heat (8-3), who are 7-0 against the East.
Marc Jackson scored 21 points and Corliss Williamson added 18 off the bench for the Sixers, who shot under 38 percent (26-of-69) from the field.
"We had great shot selection but we just couldn't knock them down," Philadelphia coach Jim O'Brien said. "We did some pretty good things; we just didn't do enough good things to beat a good basketball team."