INDIANAPOLIS -- Reggie Miller is questionable for Thursday's opening game of the World Championships with a sprained right ankle.

The Indiana Pacers guard had his ankle elevated and wrapped in ice while the U.S. national team practiced Tuesday.

National team coach George Karl said a decision on Miller likely would be made before the opener against Algeria.

	Reggie Miller iced his sprained right ankle during Team USA's practice on Tuesday.

"Asking him to come back in two or three days is hard,'' Karl said.

The 37-year-old Miller was injured in an exhibition game Sunday against Germany. He said he would be ready by Friday.

"I want to play,'' Miller said. "To be a part of something as special as this, that I put so much work into, I want to be ready.''

Miller has received constant treatment and said he felt much better Tuesday. Still, he only shot free throws and will be held out of the final practice.

Miller and Jermaine O'Neal, his Pacers' teammate, were the only two players to start in both exhibition games against China and Germany.

No decision has been made on Miller's replacement. Karl said the lineups would be rotated for the first four or five games.

"I told the team that I hope we don't have to have a starting lineup,'' he said. "The guys that are important to me are the guys who are going to finish the game.''

Miller, who won gold medals in the 1994 World Championships and 1996 Olympics, could become the first American male to earn two World Championship gold medals. He already has the U.S. record for most 3-pointers in a game with eight.

"To be asked to play for your country is an honor,'' he said. "To be asked to play with the up-and-coming superstars that are assembled on this team kind of gave me another sense of motivation to come out play.''

He's already accustomed to the role of elder statesman. He was the oldest player last season on the Pacers, the youngest team in the league. Miller is one of two players over 30 (with Toronto's Antonio Davis) on the national team, where the average age is 26.2 years.

"It's fun to be around the young guys and teach and to learn,'' Miller said. "It's fun to see if you still have it, which I feel that I do.''

Before he was hurt, Miller showed he was one of the top players on the team.

"He's probably been one of the best players on the court almost every practice,'' Karl said. "I think he's come here with a lot of pride to show the young kids that he's still one of the best players in the world.''