Knicks' Billups ready to run through pain

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Barring any setbacks, Chauncey Billups will suit up for the Knicks Sunday night for the first time in nearly two weeks.

After missing six games with a bruised left thigh, the point guard -- who last played March 1 in Orlando -- plans to start against the Indiana Pacers.

For the first time since he and Carmelo Anthony were traded from Denver on Feb. 22, the Knicks were able to practice fullcourt with all but one active player. (Guard Anthony Carter missed practice because of illness.) Billups, who ran the court in visible discomfort, said he went full-speed "as good as I could."

"It's amazing how, being out a week or so, you get so winded so fast because I haven't been able to get out on the court," he said. "I went pretty hard and it felt pretty good."

The Knicks (34-30) were 4-2 in Billups' absence with backup point guard Toney Douglas, who is averaging 14.7 points in the past seven games.

"Toney did a great job, and then in the long run, it might help us because we got Toney going," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "But we still need to improve as a team with Chauncey running it."

Though pleased with his team's play, Billups lamented the timing of his injury, which he suffered in only his fourth game in a Knicks uniform.

"The timing couldn't have been any worse," said Billups, who is averaging 23.3 points as a Knick. "With us trying to build as a unit, me as the point trying to learn these guys' games and playing with them, it's a bad time. But it is what it is and we have to move forward."

The 34-year-old guard seem- ed optimistic about his chances of playing but said he feels pain when he sprints full court. "As long as I can move, I can play with the pain," he said. "I can deal with that. I've done that a lot of times in my career."

Starting with their home-and-home against Indiana (27-38) Sunday night and Tuesday, the Knicks will face four teams with losing records. The Pacers, who have lost six in a row, are tied with the Charlotte Bobcats for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

"They should understand what it means and what we want to get," D'Antoni said, referring to the possibility of a letdown against the Pacers. "Our aspirations are pretty high and we don't have a cushion."

Notes & quotes: Amar'e Stoudemire was relieved by the league's decision to rescind his 16th technical foul, which would have forced him to miss Sunday night's game. "I've been trying to do a great job of not receiving technical fouls, so, so far so good," he said. "We both knew that it wasn't any altercation as far as myself and Brendan [Haywood, the Mavericks' center].''