Denver ? Allen Iverson woke up Sunday feeling woozy and lightheaded — classic symptoms of altitude sickness in the thin air of Denver.

Hours later, he was hoisting the Most Valuable Player trophy from the All-Star Game, proving that even when he’s not at his best, he’s pretty darn good.

The Answer proved to be just that again for the East All-Stars — finishing with 15 points, nine assists and five steals in a 125-115 victory. He has been selected MVP in the last two East wins — this year and in 2001.

Next up, he’s expecting some razzing from his teammates.

“I said at halftime, my teammates were going to joke with me because I never get tired,” he said. “I felt tired today.”

Unlike most nights with the struggling 76ers, Iverson didn’t need to take over the game from a shooting standpoint. No need to pour in 60 points like he did earlier this season. Just play some defense, shoot a little and distribute. If only it were this easy every night.

“I didn’t get double-teamed all night,” he said. “I didn’t get the attention I usually get, and it just makes it that much easier on me.”

With teammates like Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James catching his passes, all those assists were, indeed, easier. He threw the ball behind his head, hit James and O’Neal for alley-oops, threw bounce passes between his legs. His best assist of the night didn’t even count; it was a save on the baseline and a toss to O’Neal who jammed, but it was nullified when referee Jack Nies said he had stepped on the line.

OK, so it wasn’t a perfect night. Iverson shot only 4-for-13 and committed seven turnovers … but, oh well.

The East's Allen Iverson (3) is fouled by the West's Rashard Lewis during the NBA All-Star Game. Iverson was named MVP of the game Sunday in Denver.

In a game when the scoring was distributed very evenly — Jermaine O’Neal 15, Dwyane Wade 14, James 13, Shaq and Zydrunas Ilgauskas 12 — the performance still was good enough. In fact, maybe it’s to Iverson’s credit that things were so spread out. His 10 assists went to eight players, everyone from Vince Carter outside the three-point arc to Ilgauskas under the basket.

“With LeBron and Vince and those guys, you don’t have to throw the perfect pass,” Iverson said.

This MVP effort didn’t carry the same drama as his last one, in 2001. Then, he scored 15 points over the last nine minutes to lead the East to a 111-110 victory after trailing by 21.

But Iverson is more mature now, doesn’t feel the need to completely take over games, and never had to on this night.

Afterward, he waxed philosophical when asked what advice he would give to James.

“LeBron James is on top of the world,” Iverson said. “I just told him to never forget that the guys who put you on the top of the world can put you under, too.”

As for his own life — well, things have changed, and maybe his game has, too.

“I’m older. It’s simple as that,” Iverson said.