Atlanta forward Al Harrington is expected to be the next big name moved before the Feb. 23 trading deadline. Atlanta loves Nuggets injured forward-center Nene, but don't expect Denver to give in.

Despite rumors that Toronto could be interested in an experienced GM like Kiki Vandeweghe to fill its recent opening, he is under contract until Aug. 1 and hopes to re-sign. "I'm very happy in Denver," he said. "I've got a job to focus on here. That's what I want to do."

Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby was cleared Tuesday to play after missing 14 games with a broken finger.

Camby's status was day-to-day, and the Nuggets will decide at game time Wednesday whether he will play when the Nuggets face the Trail Blazers in Portland.

Coach George Karl has said he expected Camby to play about 25 minutes a game once he returned.

Camby was having the best season of his career -- leading the NBA in rebounding with 12.9 per game and averaging 16.3 points and 3.12 blocks -- when he broke his right pinkie on Dec. 26 at Golden State.

Life is good for the Nuggets and is expected to get better by week's end with the return of center Marcus Camby.

Camby said before Denver's 89-85 win over San Antonio on Sunday that he expects to return from a fractured right pinkie at the "latter half of this week." That could mean a return in one of the back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday or Saturday. Camby is scheduled to be examined by a team doctor Tuesday.

"I do want to get a couple practices in under my belt, get familiar with playing with the guys," Camby said. "It's been almost a month."

Camby was averaging 16.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and was considered a Western Conference all-star candidate before missing the past 13 games with a broken finger. He still ranks second in the league in blocked shots per game (3.1) despite his absence.

"I'm doing conditioning every day, trying to get ready," Camby said. "I'm starting to shoot a little bit."

While on the subject of the Clippers, Peter Vecsey hears they're discussing a Chris Wilcox - Francisco Elson trade with Denver.

The T'wolves, too, can't decide whether to exchange Eddie Griffin for Wilcox. Kevin McHale is against it. Dwane Casey is a proponent.

The Knicks have been shopping for a backup point guard and would have been interested in Chucky Atkins, whose contract was bought out by Washington yesterday, but he is expected to sign with Memphis.

That means the Grizzlies' efforts to trade for Denver's Earl Watson have ended, but the Knicks' pursuit of Watson continues.

The Nuggets have been unable to trade shooting guard Voshon Lenard, but it appears to be too early to consider a contract buyout.

The Washington Wizards bought out the contract of guard Chucky Atkins on Wednesday, allowing him to become a free agent.

Lenard, making $3.27 million, has not played since Dec. 15, but any buyout likely would occur near the Feb. 23 trade deadline.

The Nuggets received one more lucky break than they gave away in their clunky 90-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center, a game with a book's worth of moments in the final 22 seconds alone.

"The karma's changed," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "We're winning the close ones. We're winning the ones where we don't always make the plays, but the ball bounces the right way for us."

Carmelo Anthony scored on a baseline dunk past defender Ira Newble with 21.9 seconds left. Then things really got weird.

The Cavaliers' Sasha Pavlovic missed his first free throw by accident, then his second on purpose with 11.9 seconds left. Six-foot-three guard Eric Snow got the rebound, but then Pavlovic threw the ball away with 4.6 seconds left.

After Eduardo Najera hit one of two free throws, Denver had a three-point lead and little time to blow it. The Nuggets purposefully fouled Cavs star LeBron James, who made his first free throw, prompting a planned second miss. Though Denver players felt he left for the rebound early, he pulled it down and got fouled again by Kenyon Martin with just sixth tenths of a second left.

This time James again hit his first shot, but missed the game-tier. Teammate Alan Henderson's potential game-winning tip at the buzzer rolled just off to let the Nuggets off the hook. Denver is now 7-2 in 2006, if barely.

"I just can't believe we gave so many breaks to them," Najera said. "That's the first thing we've got to make sure of. Even if the ball is loose, just tip it back somewhere. Don't let somebody get a hand on it, especially near the rim."

Denver is shopping Earl Watson, despite GM Kiki Vandeweghe's denials. Vandeweghe has an interested suitor in Seattle, where Luke Ridnour continues to have trouble playing bigger, stronger playmakers.

Nuggets center Marcus Camby still hopes to return by the end of January from a broken right pinkie, but it will be close.

"I'm still a couple of weeks away," said Camby, who saw the doctor Thursday. "The pins (in his finger) weren't quite ready to come out yet."

Camby had surgery Dec. 29, and a timetable has not been given for his return.

"(Doctors) told me I'm way ahead of schedule," Camby said. "They didn't want to tell me (a timetable). It wasn't a short one, though (from the surgery)."