TNT gives Knicks another chance

CHICAGO - The Knicks made their first appearance on TNT's Thursday night doubleheader in three years last night. The last time they were part of the exclusive national broadcast, they were a national embarrassment in a 45-point loss to the Celtics in Boston. Isiah Thomas' team managed only 59 points that night.

"I remember watching it,'' said Mike D'Antoni, who was the coach of the Phoenix Suns at the time. "Well, about 10 minutes of it.''

The Knicks rarely have been featured on the TNT showcase in the last five years. But with the addition of Amar'e Stoudemire, TNT has scheduled the Knicks four times this season.

Kerr on Amar'e

A new face in the TNT broadcast team this season is former Suns general manager Steve Kerr, who oversaw the departure of D'Antoni and, essentially, Stoudemire. Kerr left the Suns before Stoudemire signed with the Knicks, but he was involved in negotiations to re-sign him. With concerns about Stoudemire's surgically repaired left knee, the Suns would guarantee only $70 million over four years, which the Knicks dwarfed with their $100-million offer over five.

Knicks fix

Eddy Curry (hamstring strain) said he could return to practice next week. Neither he nor the coaching staff is showing much enthusiasm about it. . . . After failing to make a scheduled appearance in the CBS show "The Good Wife,'' Derrick Rose said he overslept and missed the flight to New York and apologized to producers. "I'm not that type of guy where I try to big-time anyone or anything,'' he said.

The Dolan family owns

controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.