It was a good news, bad news kind of day for Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony.

After learning that he was not selected as a starter for next month’s NBA All-Star Game, Anthony spent about a half hour shooting jump shots and working on his ball-handling at the team’s practice court.

The workout was Anthony’s first since breaking a bone in his right (shooting) hand on Jan. 5.

"It’s feeling a lot better," he said. "I was surprised to be able to go out there and do what I did today. It’s just motivation now."

Though X-rays taken Thursday showed that the bone is healing quicker than expected, Anthony still is targeting next Friday’s game against Charlotte for his return.

"I’m still looking at the 30th," he said. "I don’t want to try to push it."

Anthony, averaging 21.1 points and 7.3 rebounds this season, has missed the past seven games. His absence likely hurt him at the All-Star ballot box.

Anthony led Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire by about 10,400 votes on Jan. 12, but Stoudemire and Tim Duncan of San Antonio were named as the Western Conference starters Thursday.

The Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard — who leads the NBA in rebounds, blocked shots and double-doubles — got a record 3,150,181 votes to lead this season’s All-Star team, released Thursday.

Miami’s Dwyane Wade (2,741,413) and Detroit’s Allen Iverson (1,804,649) will be in the East’s backcourt, alongside reigning All-Star MVP LeBron James of Cleveland (2,940,823) and Boston’s Kevin Garnett (2,066,833), who beat New Jersey’s Yi Jianlian for the starting nod by 253,004 votes.

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (2,805,397) was the West’s top vote-getter, and will be joined at guard by New Orleans’ Chris Paul (2,134,798). At center, Yao (2,532,958) will start for the sixth time, along with forwards Duncan of San Antonio (2,578,168) and Stoudemire of Phoenix (1,460,429).

The All-Star Game will be played Feb. 15 in Phoenix.

"I was behind (Stoudemire) anyway from the beginning, then I took the lead and now he’s back on top," Anthony said. "It is what it is. He’s in Phoenix. It’s his All-Star Game. If I was the starter, I probably would have gave him the starting spot anyway."

Anthony could still be named to his third All-Star team as a reserve by a vote of Western Conference coaches. The reserves will be announced next Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report