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Struggling Nuggets may be without Iverson vs. Pacers

Feb 9, 2007 - 3:43 PM Denver (23-24) at Indiana (26-23) 7:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- If the Denver Nuggets want to get back on track, they may have to do so without All-Star Allen Iverson.

The struggling Nuggets aim to avoid their fourth straight loss Friday when they visit the Indiana Pacers.

The NBA's fourth-leading scorer (28.7), Iverson has been hampered by sprained right ankle, which forced him to miss four straight games from January 31-February 5.

The four-time scoring champion returned to the lineup Wednesday and scored 22 points but re-injured the ankle late in a 114-112 overtime loss to the New Orleans Hornets.

"I don't know how I did it," Iverson said. "I don't think I came down on it any certain way as far as twisting my ankle or anything like that. I just re-aggravated it.

"I can't help us out there like this, I can't. I tried as hard as I could, but it just wasn't me."

Iverson will be a game-time decision Friday against the Pacers, who also hope to have an injured All-Star back in the lineup.

With leading scorer and rebounder Jermaine O'Neal sidelined with a bruised knee, Indiana fell short in Wednesday's 103-102 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Indianapolis Star reported Thursday that O'Neal expects to play against the Nuggets, who have won the last five meetings between these interconference foes.

Carmelo Anthony scored 38 points to pace Denver to a 121-101 home victory on December 2 in the previous contest between the teams.