Nuggets hope Iverson arrives in time to play against Kings

The Nuggets made a blockbuster move on Tuesday when they acquired Iverson, who is a seven-time All-Star, and reserve Ivan McFarlin from the Philadelphia 76ers for a pair of 2007 first-round draft picks, point guard Andre Miller and forward Joe Smith.

Iverson, who is playing in his 11th season in the NBA, was originally selected out of Georgetown by Philadelphia with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft. The Georgetown product was the NBA’s MVP in the 2000-01 campaign and led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals, where they fell in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 31.2 points and 7.3 assists in 15 games for the Sixers this season.

Denver was supposed to be play on Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns. However, the game was postponed because of a blizzard. It was the first time the Nuggets have canceled a game since April 20, 1999, after the shootings at Columbine High School.

The Nuggets hope Iverson can arrive in time for tonight’s game, as the blizzard shut down most of Denver. Iverson was expected to fly to Denver in time for the contest.

Denver has won two in a row and continues its current homestand. It will play deep into January without the league’s leading scorer, as Carmelo Anthony was hit with a 15-game suspension in the wake of last Saturday night’s ugly brawl in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 123-100 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Three of the seven players suspended were from the Nuggets. J.R. Smith, who was taken down on a breakaway layup attempt, was hit with a 10-game suspension and Nene was suspended one game for leaving the bench during the altercation.

Anthony is averaging 31.6 points per game, while J.R. Smith has recorded 16.7 per contest.

The Nuggets are 7-4 at home this season. They will also host Boston and Seattle on the current homestand.

Sacramento tries to halt a three-game losing streak. On Thursday, Antawn Jamison, Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler combined for 37 of Washington’s 44 third-quarter points, as the Wizards rallied for a 126-119 win over the Kings at ARCO Arena.

Kevin Martin posted a career-best 40 points for the Kings, who have lost nine of their last 11 contests overall. John Salmons replaced an ailing Ron Artest in the Sacramento lineup and had 23 points in a losing cause. Artest missed the game because of sore knees.

Artest, who is averaging 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season, is questionable for tonight’s contest.

The Kings are just 3-7 on the road this season. After tonight’s contest, they will have some time off and are scheduled to return to the court on Wednesday against Andre Iguodala and the Sixers at ARCO Arena.