DENVER ? What's gotten into the water at Nick Van Exel's house?

The Denver Nuggets point guard has put up good numbers throughout his eight-plus NBA seasons, but his production in the first seven games of the 2001-02 campaign is enough to make you wonder what's making him tick these days.

Van Exel's scoring average of 27.6 ranks third in the NBA, behind only former Los Angeles Laker teammates Shaquille O'Neal (30.7) and Kobe Bryant (28.5). On Van Exel's heels are Boston's Paul Pierce (27.2), Toronto's Vince Carter (26.9) and Milwaukee's Ray Allen (26.6).