The Nuggets might seek a point guard in the summer in free agency and if they go after Chucky Atkins, he is certainly interested.

"Without a doubt, I'd love to come to Denver," said Atkins, who will be a free agent. "I've always liked George Karl as a coach. I think I can help those guys getting up and down the court and score some points. I'm a guy that can stretch the court (with his shooting)."

Denver coach George Karl, down to 11 healthy players, said the Nuggets could sign a player to a 10-day deal and said "we might start working some guys out, but I don't think there's anything specific on the horizon."

Scottie Pippen, 41, has mentioned the Nuggets as a possibility in his comeback. Karl said he's "on the radar, but I don't know how serious it is."

J.R. Smith will be on the shelf for three to four weeks after he tore cartilage in his left knee in a loss to San Antonio, the team announced Wednesday.

Smith, who left Tuesday's game in the second quarter, was scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on the torn meniscus later Wednesday.

"J.R. has had a good year for us," coach George Karl said after practice. "I think a lot of people have been surprised by his contribution, and he seems to be getting better every game."

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly interested in acquiring Chicago forward P.J. Brown.

"I haven't heard that, but it's an interesting possibility," said Brown, who added of the perks of a Cuban-owned team, "They got a great record and a nice locker room. They got lots of nice things there. I wouldn't have a problem with that.

"It's good to hear my name mentioned anywhere because it means that I'm wanted,'' Brown said. "I still got some game left."

According to sources that spoke with the Denver Post, the Mavericks are also interested in Eduardo Najera

Allen Iverson appears to have his priorities in order.

The superstar guard of the Nuggets said Tuesday he will use the All-Star break to rest his sprained right ankle, becoming the fourth member of the Western Conference team sidelined by injury.

Iverson has missed seven of Denver's last eight games due to the injury. He sprained his ankle January 29 against Charlotte and aggravated it Wednesday against New Orleans.

Selected as a reserve for his eighth straight All-Star Game, Iverson is concerned with getting healthy and teaming with fellow superstar Carmelo Anthony to help the Nuggets improve their standing in the Western Conference playoff race.

Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard and Denver Nuggets  forward  Carmelo Anthony have been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured West All-Stars Yao Ming (right knee) of the Houston Rockets  and  Carlos Boozer (left fibula) on the Western Conference  Roster for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 18 in Las Vegas.

Anthony and Howard, each in their fourth NBA season, will be making their first All-Star appearance. West All-Star head coach Mike D?Antoni will determine which player on his roster  will replace Yao in the starting line-up.

Allen Iverson may bow out of the All-Star Game due to injury, which could open up a spot for his teammate Carmelo Anthony.

Iverson said he might miss the next couple of games because "I don't want this bothering me for the rest of the season. My speed is a big part of my game and when I can't move by people the way I want to I know something is wrong."

Still struggling to make sharp lateral cuts on his sore right ankle, Nuggets guard Allen Iverson was an active participant in practice Tuesday and expects to return to the Nuggets lineup tonight after sitting out four games.

"Being that I did practice, it is going to be tough for me to sit out, so, hopefully, it won't stiffen up on me or swell up on me or anything like that and I'll be able to go," Iverson said.

Amare Stoudemire scored 36 points and the Suns withstood Carmelo Anthony's first career triple-double and the loss of Steve Nash to beat the ailing Nuggets 113-108 Monday night.

Leandro Barbosa added 20 points for the Suns, who overcame a 10-point third-quarter deficit. His 3-pointer gave the Suns a 100-95 lead with 4 minutes remaining, and the Nuggets never recovered despite staying in the game until the final seconds.

Anthony, who had 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, pulled the Nuggets to 109-106 with a three-point play with 13 seconds left.

The Denver Nuggets were to decide at game time whether Allen Iverson would play Monday against Phoenix.

Iverson has missed three straight games with a right ankle sprain.

Marcus Camby and Reggie Evans also were considered game-time decisions, the team said Sunday. Camby left the game Saturday night against Sacramento in the fourth quarter with a left groin strain. Evans sat out the second half with a right ankle sprain.

Steve Blake also was injured Saturday night and needed 12 stitches on his upper lip. He was expected to play Monday.