DENVER – Saying the historic cancellation of the NHL season “drives us,” NBA Commissioner David Stern declared yesterday he expects a new collective-bargaining agreement to be reached before season’s end.

The current CBA expires June 30. If an agreement isn’t reached, free agency will be affected.

Appearing alongside Players Association Director Billy Hunter during All-Star festivities, Stern said the NHL lockout mess is “the opening prayer at each of our meetings.”

“I think there will be a deal by end of the season,” said Stern, who met with the union Friday in Denver. “We had rancorous system-changing negotiations six years ago, but on each side we think small changes need to be made, compared to changes that were made in [1999].”