Iverson picks cast over hand surgery

Philadelphia Allen Iverson had the option of surgery or a cast to repair a broken bone in his hand.

It was an easy decision.

“I didn’t want them to cut me again,” Iverson said Sunday.

Iverson, who led the NBA in minutes, steals and scoring with 31.5 points a game, is expected to get his cast Tuesday and have it changed every week until he returns, probably in the playoffs.

Surgery might have helped him get back on court quicker but Iverson said there were other factors.

“With surgery, you have to deal with infection and they’d have to cut me open, put bones in, put screws in,” he said in his first public comments since breaking his nonshooting hand Friday. “I think I’d come back faster with surgery, but as you know, I don’t want to be cut on anymore. I got surgery on my elbow and I think it’s worse than what it was before.”

The league’s reigning MVP said he has to think long-term.

“I’m just trying to do what’s right,” he said. “I don’t want this to carry over into next year. Hopefully I just sit out these last 14 games and be able to play in the playoffs.”

The 76ers are 0-8 this year without Iverson but held a five-game lead over the Washington Wizards for the final playoff spot heading into Sunday’s game against New York.

“The way I look at it, if I sit out these last 14 games, my other injuries will heal up,” Iverson said. “If I come back and this injury is bothering me, then this might be the only (injury) I have to deal with, instead of a variety of injuries. … I know how to play injured. I’ve been doing it a while.”

Anderson injures ankle

Auburn Hills, Mich. Boston Celtics guard Kenny Anderson sprained his left ankle late in the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday and limped off the court. X-rays were negative. Anderson had four points and four assists when the injury occurred.

New York’s Houston hurt

Philadelphia New York’s Allan Houston left Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter with a sprained left ankle. Houston, the Knicks’ leading scorer, landed awkwardly after taking a jump shot from the left wing with 10:24 left. He was taken to the locker room. Houston, who is averaging 20.7 points, has played in all 68 Knicks game this season.