By Marty Gitlin
Inspin.com/WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Criticize Isiah Thomas if you like. His role in Saturday Night at the Fights in Madison Square Garden 12 days ago is open for debate.

But don’t question his performance as first-year coach of the Knicks. He has invigorated what was a lifeless, unmotivated team under Larry Brown. The Knicks have played inspired basketball, particularly since the brawl.

They are 4-1 during that stretch, including a stirring 151-145 triple-overtime triumph Wednesday night over the hot Pistons. At 13-18, they are just 10 victories short of their 2005-06 season total.

Among the resurrected veterans is point guard Stephon Marbury, who scored a season-high 41 points in the defeat of Detroit, greatly offsetting the 51-point explosion by Pistons off-guard Rick Hamilton. Marbury is averaging 22.5 points and 7.7 assists in his last six games.

The Knicks have vaulted into second place, one game behind Toronto, in the very winnable Atlantic Division.

NIGHT OF THE ELITE: The four premier teams in the Western Conference (in other words, the four best teams in the NBA) will be involved in two of the three games scheduled Thursday night.

Utah (21-8), which has risen to that level, plays at San Antonio (21-8) while Dallas (21-7) hosts Phoenix (19-7) in a rematch of the Western Conference finals a year ago.

WagerWeb.com lists the Jazz as 6.5-point underdogs and Dallas as a 2-point favorite.

WADE HURT, ACCUSATIONS FLY: One superstar is out for Miami. Another might be joining him.

With Shaquille O’Neal still sidelined, brilliant guard Dwyane Wade left in the first quarter of Wednesday night’s 109-103 loss in Chicago with a right wrist injury. It will be evaluated Thursday.

Heat coach Pat Riley blamed Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich for the injury.

“Hinrich pulled his hand,” Riley told the Associated Press. “Hinrich grabbed his hand, which he does all the time. That’s what he does anytime Dwyane comes off screens. They always either grab his shirt or hand. It’s a little bit of a tactic down below the body. The officials can’t see it. So he had Dwyane’s hand and tried to pull it out of there.”

Chicago teammate Ben Gordon, who scored 40 points in the victory, defended Hinrich.

I don't think Kirk did anything,” Gordon said. “He was just playing aggressive defense. Kirk didn't do anything dirty. I don't appreciate (Riley) taking shots at our guys.”

DRIBBLES: Seattle guard Ray Allen will miss Thursday night’s game in Denver to witness the birth of his child. The Sonics are 8.5-point underdogs, according to WagerWeb.com. … Excellent performances from point guards allowed the Lakers and Raptors continued to roll Wednesday night without critical players. Smush Parker scored 20 points as the former won again the road without Lamar Odom, defeating Orlando, 106-93. T.J. Ford contributed 28 points and seven assists as the latter remained atop the Atlantic with a 100-97 win over Minnesota despite the absence of top player Chris Bosh. … Cleveland point guard Eric Snow scores little, but he contributes strong defense. That was apparent as he held Joe Johnson to 10 points on 4-of-17 shooting in a 89-76 road win over the Hawks Wednesday night. … New Jersey's Big Three of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter combined to shoot 11-of-40 from the field in a 96-71 home loss to Houston, which was playing without Yao Ming, but has been buoyed by the return of Tracy McGrady from a back injury The Nets (11-18) have lost four consecutive games.




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