While few expected the Denver Nuggets would carry a sub-.500 mark into the new year, one can only imagine where they would be without Carmelo Anthony.

The third-year forward has eclipsed the 20-point barrier in each of the past 14 games and has pushed his scoring average to 24.8. But if Anthony is going to keep his streak alive tonight against the San Antonio Spurs (7, Pepsi Center, Altitude), he'll have to do it against a defender that has given him, and many others, fits throughout his career: Bruce Bowen.

"The challenge is always good going against Bowen," said Anthony, whose streak began after returning from a sprained left ankle that kept him out for one game and most of another. "He makes you bring out your best. He's a quick defender, good hands, good feet, so I'm going to have to try to get some easy ones on him."

In the wake of reports that the Seattle SuperSonics and Denver Nuggets are discussing a possible trade, Sonics All-Star guard Ray Allen said he thinks it may be time for general manager Rick Sund to alter the team?s chemistry a bit.

?You don?t always make a change just to be making a change,? Allen said. ?But I think based on just us going up and down, the team is put in a situation where they have to consider an opportunity to shake things up and make it better. Or if it doesn?t make it better, at least try.?

The Sonics have discussed a trade with the Nuggets that would send Ronald Murray to Denver in exchange for Earl Watson. Other players on the Sonics? roster would be involved to make the exchanged salaries balance.

Before the game Thursday, Murray warmed up on the court and was unavailable for comment.

Both Allen and co-captain Rashard Lewis acknowledged that Watson would be a better fit than Murray at reserve point guard. Allen cited the 14 assists the team had in its loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, a game Murray started in place of the injured Luke Ridnour.

?Bob (Weiss) has to make it a mandate to (Murray) that he has to start out (games) getting everybody involved,? Allen said. ?That has to be made a mandate. If a (trade) is made, if something happens, they have to come in here, learn who we have and distribute the ball.?

Lewis said Watson may be a better fit as the backup point guard.

?I like Flip as a player and as a person,? Lewis said. ?He is a great scorer. But I don?t know if the organization is looking for a scorer or a guy to run the point and play defense. It depends on what they are looking for. Earl is probably a better defender, more of a point guard.?

News circulating that Ronald Murray could join the Denver Nuggets' lineup was surprising to the Sonics guard.

He sat atop the scorer's table at the Pepsi Center with a stunned look as he was told he could be traded for Nuggets guard Earl Watson, a former Sonic. The Sonics need a solid backup point guard, and the Nuggets could use Murray's scoring.

There are several problems with the rumor, however. The NBA's collective-bargaining agreement states the salaries of players being traded under this scenario must be within 25 percent of one another. Watson, who played for the Sonics in the 2001-02 season, will make $5 million this season, Murray $895,248. So more Sonics players would have to be lumped into the deal to make it work.

And Murray, who signed a one-year deal to test the free-agent market this summer, has the power to veto any trade.

"I don't know nothing about that," he said. "Denver is a nice organization. And I have a lot of respect for George Karl, him being my first coach in the NBA [with Milwaukee], but I don't know."

Murray said he wants to remain in Seattle.

The Nuggets do not appear on the verge of pulling the trigger on a deal, yet. But there was plenty of talk around the Pepsi Center on Thursday involving possible destinations for guard Earl Watson.

The Tacoma (Wash.) News- Tribune reported Thursday that Watson would go to Seattle for guard Ronald "Flip" Murray and other players. Though it remains a possibility, sources close to the situation said no such deal is imminent. To make the deal work, Murray must first OK it, since his $895,000 contract allows him to veto trades.

Murray would not say Thursday if he would exercise that veto, though he did say of Denver, "It's a nice organization. A lot of respect for George Karl, him being my first coach in the NBA (at Milwaukee)."

Seattle would probably have to include forward Vitaly Potapenko, whose $3,325,000 salary would combine with Murray's to approach the $5 million deal of Watson, who declined comment. The Nuggets also would have to trim another player from their roster to accommodate two incoming players.

Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said he did not feel pressure to trade for a big man despite his team's injuries, "because Kenyon (Martin) is coming back shortly at full strength. Marcus (Camby) will be back within a reasonable period of time, I'm sure."

Marcus Camby took the first step toward returning to his big season.

The Denver Nuggets announced Thursday that Camby underwent successful surgery to insert pins into his fractured right pinky. He still is sidelined indefinitely.

Camby, who originally sprained the finger on December 14, suffered the break in Monday's game against Golden State. He played six minutes in Tuesday's loss to Philadelphia.  

Another in a long line of injuries, the latest setback could not come at a worse time for Camby, who is shooting better than 50 percent from the floor while averaging 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds in 25 games.

In his ninth season, Camby never has played more than 72 games in a campaign. He was limited to 66 games in 2004-05.

The SuperSonics and Denver Nuggets are discussing a trade that would send Ronald ?Flip? Murray to Denver and bring former Sonics guard Earl Watson to Seattle, sources said Wednesday.

It is unclear if a trade will be consummated because the Nuggets (14-15) are talking with other teams in an attempt to upgrade a roster that many ? including coach George Karl ? predicted would win the Northwest Division.

Sonics general manager Rick Sund could not be reached for comment.

The Sonics would have to include several other players to complete a deal because Murray earns $895,000. Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the salaries of players traded must be within 15 percent of each another. Watson, who signed a five-year, $29 million deal this summer, earns $5 million this season.

If the Sonics put together an offer of Murray, Mikki Moore, Rick Brunson and Mateen Cleaves or Reggie Evans, they could get close to the total needed to complete a deal for Watson, who left the Sonics via free agency in 2002.

Denver center Marcus Camby will be out indefinitely after breaking his right pinkie finger, an injury that will require surgery.

Camby will need surgery on the finger, after which a timeline for his return will be set.

He averages 16.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and is second in the league with 3.12 blocks a game. His injury adds to a long list for Denver, which has struggled to a 14-15 record.

Already, the Nuggets have lost power forward Nene for the season with a knee injury. Kenyon Martin has missed 10 games with a bad knee. Earl Boykins recently missed six games with a hamstring injury and Greg Buckner missed three with a strained groin.

Camby played only six minutes Tuesday night in a 108-106 loss to Philadelphia. The Nuggets play Seattle on Thursday.

Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby has suffered a right hand 5th finger fracture.  He will have pins surgically inserted into the finger tomorrow after which a timeline for his return will be set.

Camby originally sprained the finger during practice in Cleveland on Dec. 14.  He suffered the fracture against Golden State on Dec. 26.

Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest has accepted he is going to be traded but says he has no preference where. If he ends up being dealt to the Nuggets, he isn't expected to have a problem coming to Colorado.

A deal for Artest could include as many as four teams, and the Nuggets' injured forward-center Nene is expected to be a part of any Denver deal.

Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, said a deal is expected "sometime at the end of this week." The Nuggets have acknowledged interest and have been talking regularly to Pacers CEO and president Donnie Walsh.

"I've been to Denver before. It has nice scenery," Artest said Tuesday. "I really don't have a comment on the rumors. It's not my place. I like Carmelo (Anthony). I'm cool with (Marcus) Camby. I like a lot of their players.

"As of right now, I'm still a Pacer. I'm always going to have tremendous respect for Donnie."

Allen Iverson got the final shot in his shootout with Carmelo Anthony.

Iverson scored 36 points, including the game-winning basket, and the Philadelphia 76ers overcame Anthony's career-high 45 to beat the Denver Nuggets 108-106 on Tuesday night.

Chris Webber added 32 points and 15 rebounds, none bigger than the one in the final minute that set up Iverson's winning shot.

After Webber grabbed Earl Watson's miss from long range, the Sixers called a timeout with 21 seconds left. Iverson took the inbounds pass and stalled at midcourt until driving on Andre Miller, then pulling up and sinking the basket from the top of the key with 4.2 seconds remaining.

"I was surprised that they just let me wind the clock down and take a shot," Iverson said. "I told my teammates that I was going to wind it down. ... I was hoping if I did miss, the ball would bounce and the time would run out."