Iverson Helps Nuggets Snap 5-Game Skid

DENVER (AP) _ Allen Iverson is finding his comfort zone and shaking his shooting slump. <br/><br/>He went into a funk shortly after joining the Nuggets in a blockbuster trade from Philadelphia last month,

Tuesday, January 9th 2007, 6:29 am

By: News On 6

DENVER (AP) _ Allen Iverson is finding his comfort zone and shaking his shooting slump.

He went into a funk shortly after joining the Nuggets in a blockbuster trade from Philadelphia last month, playing with a patchwork lineup that's missing Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith, who are serving suspensions for fighting with the New York Knicks last month.

Iverson thinks he finally turned the corner in Denver's 102-94 win over the equally depleted Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night that snapped the Nuggets' five-game losing streak.

Iverson had ping-ponged his way around the court as usual, fighting collapsing zones and contracted passing lanes when he worked free on the left baseline in the closing minutes, grabbed a pass from Earl Boykins and swished an open 3-pointer that gave Milwaukee a 92-84 lead with 3:18 left.

It also gave him an inkling that his rhythm was right around the corner.

``Those are the types of shots I need,'' Iverson said. ``Especially rhythm shots. Not always creating a shot for myself. Just having teammates create easy shots for me. When other guys got the ball, especially Earl, I try to find open spots to where I can just get a shot off without a hand in my face all the time.

``And I think with Melo coming back (in two weeks), that will make it that much more easier for me to not always have shots in traffic, not always have to beat two or three guys to get a shot.''

In other games, Houston beat Chicago 84-77 and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated New Orleans 100-90.

Iverson irritated a sprained right big toe that he hurt in Los Angeles on Friday night, but X-rays were negative and the Nuggets said he'd probably play Wednesday night against San Antonio.

``If it was cut off, I'd play,'' Iverson said.

The last thing the Nuggets need is another injury.

They lost Kenyon Martin for the season with a knee injury in mid-November, and Marcus Camby has been dealing with a broken right ring finger for weeks. He returned from a one-game absence to get 19 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots against the Bucks. Iverson shot 9-for-21 from the field and finished with 23 points.

Milwaukee was without injured guard Michael Redd and lost his backcourt mate Mo Williams to a sprained shoulder in the second quarter. The Bucks also were without forward Charlie Villanueva, who missed his third straight game with an injured right shoulder.

``It's not an excuse to get a loss just because Michael is not here,'' Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut said. ``You have to have someone step up for him and figure out a way to win.''

Ruben Patterson, who played in Denver last season, started in Redd's spot and scored 29 points, three shy of his career high, and had 12 rebounds.

Redd learned Monday that he'll miss four-to-six weeks because of an injured left knee.

Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera bruised his left shoulder in the first half and didn't return.

Rockets 84, Bulls 77

Tracy McGrady scored 25 of his 31 points in the second half and hit the go-ahead jumper to lift the visiting Rockets to the win.

McGrady's long jumper with 1:19 left broke a 77-77 tie. Houston's Shane Battier blocked a driving layup by Ben Gordon with 25 seconds left. McGrady then hit one of two free throws to make it a three-point game and Chuck Hayes and Luther Head added two foul shots apiece.

Juwan Howard had 16 points and nine rebounds, Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 16 boards, and the Rockets won for the sixth time in eight games since Yao Ming broke a bone in his right leg.

Gordon led Chicago with 24 points, and Luol Deng scored 20.

Clippers 100, Hornets 90

At Oklahoma City, Sam Cassell scored 31 points and Cuttino Mobley finished with 20 to lead the Clippers to the win.

Playing for the first time in three weeks, Cassell scored 10 points during Los Angeles' decisive 17-3 fourth-quarter surge, including a 3-pointer that gave the Clippers the lead for good at 79-77 with 9:12 to play.

Cassell had missed seven games with plantar fasciitis in his left heel before returning against the Hornets, and Mobley hyperextended his left elbow last week at Miami.

Desmond Mason led New Orleans with 28 points for the second straight game, picking up his first consecutive 20-point games since his final three games with Milwaukee at the end of the 2004-05 season.