Carmelo Anthony and new teammate Allen Iverson aren't supposed to play together until Jan. 20 at Houston.

The question is whether Anthony will try to make it sooner by appealing his 15-game suspension for punching Mardy Collins during last Saturday's brawl between the Knicks and Nuggets.

"I never had to sit out a month," said Anthony, who talked Tuesday about his suspension, before the Iverson deal was announced.

Anthony, who was contrite about the incident, said was still uncertain if he would appeal the suspension. "We're working on it," he said.