http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/162993p-142892c.html

Kurt's pinkie
gets OK

By FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

DALLAS - Kurt Thomas received a clean bill of health yesterday after meeting with a hand specialist in New York.
Thomas, who has been playing with a sore left pinkie for the past 10 days, feared that he had torn a tendon in his shooting hand. However, test results confirmed there was no damage to the bones or tendon.

"It's fine," Thomas said. "They said the swelling should go down and hopefully it will feel better."

Despite the injury, Thomas has had no trouble shooting the ball. He made 12 of 19 shots in Sunday's win over the Clippers, scoring a season-high 28 points. Over the course of two games, Thomas made 14 straight shots before missing a short jumper at the end of the first half.

In 17 games with Stephon Marbury as the Knicks' point guard, Thomas has made 93 of 187 shots and is averaging 12.9 points.



LAST OF DON: The Mavs defeated the Knicks, 127-121, in overtime last month. The game, which might have been the Knicks' most exciting of the season, was also Don Chaney's last as coach.

Dallas scored 101 points through three quarters and throughout the game fans were chanting, "Fire Chaney." Two days later, Chaney was fired and replaced by Lenny Wilkens, who has gone 9-3.

TEXAS TWIST: Mavs owner Mark Cuban is expected to make a run this summer at Thomas, who is eligible to become a free agent. Thomas was born and raised in Dallas and went to TCU. He lives in Dallas during the offseason.

Garden chairman James Dolan is expected to attend tomorrow's game in New Orleans.

POINT TAKEN: Frank Williams and Moochie Norris continue to flip-flop roles as Marbury's backup. Over the past two games, Williams has been elevated to second-string status, while Norris played two minutes against Miami and was a DNP vs. the Clippers.

Originally published on February 10, 2004

Definitely GOOD news! We gotta have all our guns going into Dallas tonight. KT can put on a good show in front of his tometown fans as he helps the Knicks get this W right quick...