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Thunder-Knicks Preview

Feb 20, 2010 - 6:30 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Oklahoma City (31-21) at New York (19-34), 7:30 p.m. EDT

A series of salary-shedding trades have the New York Knicks in position to court two star players this summer, while auditioning another for the next two months. The Oklahoma City Thunder sure are glad one New York can't get is Kevin Durant.

The new-look Knicks will have recent acquisition Tracy McGrady in the starting lineup Saturday night when they face Durant and the red-hot Thunder at Madison Square Garden.

New York (19-34) has long been reported to be preparing for a free-agent spending spree this summer with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh expected to headline the list.

The Knicks made it abundantly clear that's the plan before Thursday's trade deadline, making three deals that would leave them with about $32 million in salary cap space in July. Players such as James, Wade and Bosh would each make a little more than $16.5 million in the first season of a new contract.

"I think that's probably what everything the last few years has been about, getting cap room and setting ourselves up for the summer and trying to create a better atmosphere," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "There's a lot of things that we want to do, but a major component is creating as much cap space as we can."

Proving how much they're gearing toward a big splash in free agency, the Knicks got McGrady solely because his bloated contract expires at the end of the season.

McGrady, meanwhile, will attempt to prove he's still capable of being a star after joining New York in a three-team, nine-player deadline trade with Houston and Sacramento. New York also sent fan-favorite Nate Robinson to Boston in a five-player deal, a day after trading Darko Milicic and cash to Minnesota for Brian Cardinal, who is expected to be released.

McGrady, a two-time scoring champion, played only six games with the Rockets this season while recovering from microfracture knee surgery.

"Physically I feel good, but then again I haven't played in a year and a half," McGrady said. "Even the eight minutes I was playing, you really can't get a feel of how long I can play. But yeah, I think I'm ready to go."

The seven-time All-Star will get his first chance to impress the Knicks on Saturday, while also attempting to help them avoid their longest losing streak since a season-high six-game slide from Nov. 4-13.

Their skid reached five Wednesday with a 115-109 loss to Chicago, getting swept in the home-and-home set by a team they're expected to compete with in free agency.

While the Knicks are struggling to remain competitive, Durant has the Thunder (31-21) in the thick of the playoff race. They've won seven in a row for their longest streak since a nine-game run from Nov. 5-19, 2004, when the franchise was the Seattle SuperSonics.

Durant had 25 points and 14 rebounds Tuesday to help Oklahoma City beat Southwest Division-leading Dallas 99-86.

"We're on a nice streak right now, but they're a humble group," coach Scott Brooks said.

Durant has averaged 32.1 points and 8.9 boards during the win streak, and he's scored at least 25 in 26 consecutive games. That streak includes a 30-point effort in a 106-88 home win over the Knicks on Jan. 11 - the Thunder's fifth victory in the last six meetings.