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Allen Iverson appears to have his priorities in order.
The superstar guard of the Denver Nuggets said Tuesday he will use the All-Star break to rest his sprained right ankle, becoming the fourth member of the Western Conference team sidelined by injury.
"I'm very disappointed that I can't play right now," Iverson said. "I was really looking forward to representing the Nuggets in my first All-Star Game with the West. However, I need to make sure my ankle is 100 percent for the stretch run."
Iverson to skip All-Star Game
DENVER (Ticker) - Allen Iverson appears to have his priorities in order.
The superstar guard of the Denver Nuggets said Tuesday he will use the All-Star break to rest his sprained right ankle, becoming the fourth member of the Western Conference team sidelined by injury.
Iverson has missed seven of Denver's last eight games due to the injury. He sprained his ankle January 29 against Charlotte and aggravated it Wednesday against New Orleans.
Selected as a reserve for his eighth straight All-Star Game, Iverson is concerned with getting healthy and teaming with fellow superstar Carmelo Anthony to help the Nuggets improve their standing in the Western Conference playoff race.
"I'm very disappointed that I can't play right now," Iverson said. "I was really looking forward to representing the Nuggets in my first All-Star Game with the West. However, I need to make sure my ankle is 100 percent for the stretch run."
Denver (26-24) is seventh in the West, two games ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers but 7 1/2 games behind first-place Utah in the Northwest Division. A division winner can be seeded no lower than fourth.
A four-time scoring champion, Iverson was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on December 19. He is averaging 28.7 points this season, including 26.8 in 20 games with Denver.
Anthony's 15-game suspension for fighting and Iverson's injury have prevented the duo from playing together for all but six games. The Nuggets are 2-4 in those games.