Iverson May Return Soon

Allen Iverson might not miss up to a month after all.

Iverson partially dislocated his right shoulder in a collision with Chris Childs in the fourth quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 91-71 loss to the New York Knicks Friday night.

Dr. Jack McPhilemy, the 76ers’ physician, said Saturday that Iverson will be out one to three weeks, not two to four weeks as originally expected. Iverson, who has played through numerous injuries in his career, was not put on the injured list, which would have required him to sit out at least five games.

“He told me he didn’t want to go on the injured list,” 76er Coach Larry Brown said. “You have to admire kids like that.”

Iverson sat out 10 games because of a broken thumb early last season. But he played with a partially torn and bruised rotator cuff, a chip fracture in his right ankle, a broken left toe and an inflamed right elbow. He played with a left hip pointer Friday night.

Iverson is averaging 25.3 points, 4.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds.

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Point guard Brevin Knight was activated by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who also put swingman Wesley Person on the injured list.

Knight has missed all but two games this season while recovering from knee surgery. He started the season on the injured list, was activated Dec. 1 and was put on the list again Dec. 12.