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Iverson, Nuggets aim for second straight win

Dec 28, 2006 - 3:49 PM Seattle (12-17) at Denver (15-10) 10:30 pm EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- Allen Iverson gave Denver Nuggets fans reason to cheer in his starting debut with his new team. He figures to draw more applause against a team without its two best players.

Iverson takes the court for the third time with his new team when the Nuggets host the undermanned Seattle SuperSonics on Thursday.

Six days after being acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson made his Nuggets starting debut in Tuesday's 116-105 victory over the Boston Celtics.

A four-time scoring champion, Iverson scored 28 points and also handed out 13 assists for Denver, which improved to 2-1 without suspended superstar Carmelo Anthony.

The Nuggets look to improve to 2-1 with Iverson on Thursday when they face a SuperSonics team playing without leading scorers Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.

Allen will miss the contest to attend the birth of his child while Lewis is nursing a ruptured tendon in his hand, an injury which will sideline him up to eight weeks.

Luke Ridnour had 27 points and nine assists while Allen scored 10 of his 21 points in a decisive fourth quarter as the Sonics posted a 102-94 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday.

It was Seattle's second consecutive win since dropping five straight from December 12-20.