Phil Jasner of the Daily News reports that Allen Iverson has chosen to not get surgery on his broken left hand. Doctors have estimated that surgery could allow him to return to action sooner than letting the break heal on its own, but Iverson does not want his body cut on again.

"I'm just trying to do what's right; I don't want this to carry over into next year,'' Iverson said. "Hopefully, I'll sit out the last 14 games and be able to play in the playoffs. . .I didn't want to be cut on any more. I got surgery on my elbow, and my elbow, I think, is worse than before. I'm not big on having surgery." Later, Iverson said, "I want to do what's right for me. This season means everything to me, but it's not everything. I want to play next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. I don't want to keep dealing with the same injury."

For now the Sixers must learn to win without Iverson. Before yesterdays' 90-82 win over the Knicks, the Sixers had dropped their last 10 decisions, including a playoff game against Milwaukee last season, when he was unavailable. Including the postseason, they are 16-27 without him during his five-plus seasons in the league.

"I always say that, when somebody goes down, other guys have to shine," Iverson said. "It's time to put up or shut up. I've got all the confidence in the world in them. Everybody thinks we're just going to fold and go home early, have a good summer. I think these guys' hearts, on this squad, are bigger than just that."