NBA notebook: Spurs are finally getting healthy

SAN ANTONIO — Tony Parker returned from an ankle injury Friday against Memphis to give the resurgent San Antonio Spurs their full complement of All-Stars for the first time this season.

Parker came off the bench in the second quarter in his first action since a Nov. 7 loss to Miami. He had been the NBA's leading scorer when he went down against the Heat.

It marked the first appearance in 10 games for Parker, and the first time this season that the once-slumping Spurs have had Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili together and healthy.

Ginobili made his debut Monday at Memphis after sitting out the first month while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. He's averaged 13.5 points in his two games back.

San Antonio reunited its "Big Three" at a time when the Spurs are already one of the NBA's hottest teams. With Friday's win, they have won eight of their last 10 games.

It's a lot better than most figured.

IVERSON APOLOGIZES FOR MISSING PRACTICE: Allen Iverson apologized Friday for skipping a Detroit Pistons practice on Thanksgiving and insisted it won't happen again.

The standout guard was the only player who didn't show up when the Pistons worked out Thursday.

"First of all, I have no excuses," Iverson said after Detroit's shootaround for its game against the Milwaukee Bucks. "It was a personal matter, but I just handled it the wrong way. I didn't call and let them know what was going on."

Iverson spent most of the first quarter on the bench, until coach Michael Curry sent him in with 2:24 left in the period. Thirty-nine seconds later, Iverson scored his first basket on a running jump shot.

Rodney Stuckey replaced Iverson, getting his third start of the season, and scored seven points in the game's first seven minutes.

The Pistons acquired Iverson from Denver for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb on Nov. 3. When Iverson was with the 76ers, he had a famous rant in 2002 lashing out at critics complaining about his practice habits.

NASH OUT WITH THIGH INJURY: Steve Nash sat out Friday night's Phoenix Suns game against the Miami Heat with a bruised right thigh.

The two-time league MVP was injured Wednesday when he collided with Minnesota's Kevin Love during the Suns' 110-102 victory.

Rookie Sean Singletary replaced Nash, who's averaging 14.3 points and 8.0 assists per game, in the starting lineup.