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Injury-riddled Knicks take on Trail Blazers

Mar 22, 2007 - 4:16 PM Portland (27-40) at New York (30-37) 7:30 pm EDT

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Knicks can't afford any more injuries.

Fighting for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, the injury-riddled Knicks look to bounce back from one of their worst offensive games of the season when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

New York is in a virtual three-way tie with Orlando (31-38), Indiana (30-37) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. But the Knicks have not had their full arsenal.

Guard Jamal Crawford (stress fractured right ankle), forward David Lee (right leg bone bruise) and swingman Quentin Richardson (back spasms) all have missed extended periods of time.

Matters became worse in Tuesday's 92-77 loss to Dallas, when New York saw two more key players get banged up.

Forward Channing Frye was poked in the eye and left with six minutes left in the third quarter and point guard Stephon Marbury took a hard fall late in the fourth quarter and left with unspecified injuries.

However, Marbury and Frye's injuries are not expected to be serious and both will be evaluated prior to Thursday's game.

The Knicks looked overmatched and undermanned in their loss to the Mavericks, shooting just 36 percent (28-of-78) while managing 34 points after the break.

A pair of rookies led the Trail Blazers to a 100-98 victory over Washington on Tuesday. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 25 points and fellow rookie Brandon Roy had 19 and 12 rebounds.