NUMBERS GAME

14.8 fast-break points is the average allowed by the Nuggets through 71 games this season, most in the NBA. Denver, though, led the league in fast-break points per game (18.8) with a 4.0 fast-break differential.

HE SAID IT

"I wouldn't say he's a dirty player, not at all. He plays hard and he does what he has to do on the court. . . . I laugh at that. Every team has one of those guys. We have Reggie."

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, on teammate Reggie Evans, who twice in a four-game span was accused by an opponent of being a dirty player.

STILL NO HALL PASS FOR A.D.

For the fifth year in a row, the Basketball Hall of Fame dangled a membership card in front of Nuggets assistant Adrian Dantley and then reportedly held it beyond his grasp.

According to a source with knowledge of the selections, Dantley is not among the Class of 2007 that will be announced Monday in Atlanta, site of the Final Four.

Dantley, a six-time NBA All-Star, averaged 24.3 points in 15 professional seasons and his 23,177 career points rank 18th in NBA history. He also was a standout at Notre Dame and was the leading scorer on the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the 1976 Olympics.

Dantley, a Hall of Fame finalist for the fifth time, said he did not want to comment until the inductees officially are announced.

OMINOUS SIGN?

Veteran referee Steve Javie was among the three-man officiating crew Friday night. It was the first time Javie worked a Nuggets game since ejecting Allen Iverson on Jan. 2.

Iverson accused Javie of having a personal vendetta against him and subsequently was fined $25,000 despite several public apologies.

Javie assessed Iverson a technical foul for arguing with 9:14 left in the fourth quarter Friday night.