Hobbled Iverson skips Nuggets trip

Basketball Betting Lines

02/08/2007 -

DENVER (AP) -Allen Iverson's swollen right ankle doesn't have any structural damage, but he still stayed home while the Denver Nuggets left for a two-game trip to the Midwest.

Iverson aggravated his sprained ankle during overtime in the Nuggets' loss to New Orleans on Wednesday night. He had 22 points, nine assists and four rebounds in his return from a four-game absence but wasn't his usual self as he had to settle for jumpers. An MRI on Thursday didn't show any structural damage.

``I think it is one of those things where I just came back too soon,'' Iverson said. ``I couldn't be me on the basketball court. I am more effective being aggressive and going to the basket and making things happen.''

Asked if he felt he was hurting his team rather than helping, Iverson said: ``I feel like I'm hurting me, first. That's my main concern. ... Obviously, I am worried about my team, but if I am out there and I can't be me, then I don't think I am helping them.''

Iverson realized he shouldn't have rushed back to help his struggling team, which has lost seven of eight.

``This is a game I love to play, but even more than that, I want to be there to help, given that we are struggling the way we are,'' Iverson said. ``I wanted to go out and give us a lift, but the way my ankle was in the second half, I can't help that way.''

Iverson will miss the Nuggets' games at Indiana on Friday night and Milwaukee on Saturday night but hopes to play again Monday night against Golden State.

He acknowledged, however, that he might be sidelined through the All-Star game Feb. 18 in Las Vegas.

``This (team) means more to me than the All-Star game. I have been there and done that in my career. If I have to (skip it), if that's the right thing for me to do, then that is exactly what I will do,'' Iverson said. ``That is something that I haven't thought about because I don't care about that right now. I care about this team right here.''

If Iverson backs out of his eighth All-Star appearance, that would give teammate Carmelo Anthony another crack at making his first All-Star team as one of commissioner David Stern's injury replacement picks. Stern has said he won't hold Anthony's 15-game suspension for fighting against him when choosing replacements.

Coach George Karl, who has spent the last two months juggling his lineup because of trades, injuries and suspensions, kept up a brave front in the face of his latest setback regarding Iverson.

``We are good enough to win without him,'' Karl said, ``and it will be special if we can get everyone on the court.''

Center Marcus Camby (groin), who hasn't played in a week, will be a game-time decision Saturday night.

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Nettazi Basketball Betting News

<< Cowboys replace Parcells with Wade Phillips
IRVING, Texas (AP) -Wade Phillips was hired Thursday to coach the Dallas Cowboys, providing the club with an experienced replacement for Bill Parcells and someone well-versed in the 3-4 defense.The seventh coach in team history, Phillips is only the

<< IRVING, Texas (AP) -The Dallas Cowboys have hired San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips as head coach.
APNewsAlertIRVING, Texas (AP) -The Dallas Cowboys have hired San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips as head coach.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be

<< Denver's Bailey, Lynch still mourn slain teammate at Pro Bowl
KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) -Champ Bailey and John Lynch had the same idea for their latest trip to the Pro Bowl: They both wanted to wear No. 27 in honor of slain Broncos teammate Darrent Williams.Williams died from a gunshot wound to the neck on New Year

<< Vikings hire Colts assistant Frazier as defensive coordinator
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -Leslie Frazier became the first assistant coach to leave the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts on Thursday, accepting the job as defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings.A special assistant to Colts coach Tony Du

<< 'Tank' Johnson pleads guilty to probation violation
SKOKIE, Ill. (AP) -Bears defensive lineman Terry ``Tank'' Johnson pleaded guilty Thursday to violating probation in a 2005 gun case.Cook County Judge John Moran denied a request to lift the player's home confinement, but said Johnson could leave his

Selig unsure whether he will attend games as Bonds chases record >>
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Barry Bonds might get a telephone call from baseball commissioner Bud Selig instead of a handshake if the San Francisco Giants slugger breaks Hank Aaron's home run record.Selig wouldn't say Thursday whether he would attend any Gi

Sports still waiting for active gay player >>
A pro athlete who waits until his career is over to declare he's gay, the way John Amaechi just did in a new book, is yesterday's news.He has something to sell, little to lose and does less to advance the cause he's fighting for - helping sports get

Niners thrilled to keep Turner >>
Norv Turner won't be the Dallas Cowboys' next head coach after all.That's great news for everybody with the San Francisco 49ers, and even Turner doesn't seem too disappointed to be staying home.The Cowboys hired Wade Phillips on Thursday, about 10 d

Skrastins breaks Horton's durability mark >>
DENVER (AP) -Karlis Skrastins broke Tim Horton's NHL record for durability by a defenseman Thursday night when he played in his 487th consecutive regular-season game.The Colorado Avalanche honored Skrastins before their home game against Atlanta wit

Sis' cheer 'Yeah, Wade!' sums up general reaction to Cowboys' hire >>
IRVING, Texas (AP) -The reaction to Wade Phillips being hired as coach of the Dallas Cowboys might've best been summed up by one of his sisters. She couldn't contain her excitement when he walked in for his introductory news conference Thursday nigh

Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.