Maybe it's the way he shuffles through the locker room with the posture of an 80-year-old strolling through Central Park.

Maybe it's his crooked smile, hangdog look and occasionally cracking voice.

Or maybe it's simply his uncanny resemblance to the late comedian-actor Richard Pryor.

Whatever the reason, Denver Nuggets point guard Andre Miller has a way of keeping his teammates loose as they seek comic relief during the course of an 82-game stress test.

"He's a different cat, let me put it like that," Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. "I've never been around someone like him. He's just really different.

"He's a funny guy without trying to be funny. Just his demeanor, the way he walks, the way he talks. Everything about him is amusing - except for his game."

Indeed, Miller's on-court performance this season has been seriously impressive. Playing a team-leading 36.8 minutes, Miller is averaging 14.3 points, 8.4 assists and 4.9 rebounds while serving as the catalyst for a Nuggets team that has seized control of the Northwest Division.

"Andre is our motor," coach George Karl said. "I feel naked when he's not on the floor."

Miller prevented the Nuggets from getting caught with their shorts down Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. He scored 17 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, repeatedly getting easy layups. When Miller was not blowing past guard Steve Blake, he was finding teammates for open shots.

Counting his three assists, Miller accounted for 24 of Denver's 26 points in the final quarter of a 97-94 victory. He would have had a hand in all 26 if Carmelo Anthony had converted a layup with about 6 minutes remaining. Anthony grabbed his own rebound for an easy putback.

"It was one of those special fourth quarters," Karl said. "Offensively, we rode a horse, and Miller was the horse."

Miller's late-game surge helped Denver extend its winning streak to seven games. The Nuggets will try to make it eight tonight, at home against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Miller has done nothing different during the win streak, averaging 14.3 points and 8.0 assists to mirror his numbers for the season.

"He's been probably our most consistent player all season," Camby said. "There's not a lot of rah-rah about his game. He just goes out there and goes about his business and he's solid every night."

Emphasis on every night.

Not only is Miller steering the Nuggets' ship, but he is proving to be a tireless rudder; the game tonight will be his 249th in a row.

One of the tricks to durability seems to be knowing when to conserve energy and when to step on the accelerator.

Miller can be agonizingly methodical, walking or jogging the ball up the court at times, but he is at his best when he pushes the pace and attacks the basket.

"When he's out there and he's passive, teams tend to overload on everyone else," Nuggets guard Earl Boykins said. "When he's aggressive, it makes it a lot easier for the rest of the guys on the team."

Miller certainly has made a conscious effort to push the ball in the 12 months he has spent under Karl. He has proved adept at making difficult assists look easy, throwing backdoor lobs and one-handed passes off the dribble.

"I think I'm getting guys involved, just passing the ball," he said. "I think I score when I need to."

One thing still missing from Miller's repertoire is the three-point shot. He is 2 of 15 this season and has attempted only one three-pointer in the past 16 games.

Karl talked with Miller last season about attempting one three-pointer a half and eventually would like to see Miller make 25 a season.

"That's something I always want to improve in, but my main thing is to get guys involved and make plays," Miller said. "When the shot is there, I'll take the shot."

He also is willing to provide the occasional verbal assist when things are not going well on the court.

"In games, sometimes cracking a few jokes will get myself going and other guys going, especially when it's kind of quiet and we're kind of sluggish," Miller said. "When you're a point guard on the court, there really isn't too much time for joking. You have to get guys on offense going and do a lot of talking on defense."

Despite his steady play for a first- place team, few are talking about his chances of landing a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team.

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns are the runaway leaders to start the All-Star Game on Feb. 19.

Only Nash has more assists than Miller this season, but Miller is not counting on a trip to Houston.

Asked if he considers himself an All-Star, Miller said: "I do, but that's the politics of basketball. I don't get caught up in all that."

Miller has learned a better approach: Just laugh it off.