Billups feels right at home

Chauncey Billups' vertical has diminished, and his speed in the open court slowed.

That's fine with the Denver Nuggets -- they just like him for his winning touch.

The Mile High City native led the Detroit Pistons to six straight Eastern Conference finals with his impeccable decision-making abilities and clutch shooting.

That's why the Nuggets acquired Billups, along with Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, from Detroit this week for Allen Iverson.

They like his no-nonsense attitude when it comes to winning.

"I'm coming to work, I'm coming to win," Billups said Thursday. "If guys want to win, they're going to fall in line. That's all I play for -- that's the only reason I play -- is to win."

While Billups is on board, McDyess may soon be bought out of his contract. His agent, Andy Miller, called his chances of returning for a third stint with Denver "very low to zero."

"I don't think it has to do with a destination or a city right now," Miller said. "I think it has more to do with his ability to pick and choose his destination. ... He really had difficulty with the whole thing."

Not so with Billups.

He's a celebrity around Denver, a high school prodigy who went on to play at the University of Colorado. Billups couldn't wait to get back for a second stint in Denver.

After all, Billups' first time in town didn't go as he expected -- he was forced to play shooting guard with Nick Van Exel already running the show and later dislocated his left shoulder, requiring season-ending surgery.

"When I first came back here, I was like the hometown kid coming back," Billups said. "Now I'm a man. I'm not the same, as far as my game goes."

SLOAN NEAR MILESTONE: Jerry Sloan can become the first NBA coach to win 1,000 games with the same team when his Utah Jazz team hosts Oklahoma City tonight. The Jazz is 999-596 since Sloan took over as coach in December 1988.