Patrick Ewing was classified as ”day-to-day” yesterday with a sprained right knee by the Knicks and the team is hopeful that Ewing will practice today.

The Knicks begin a three-day mini-camp at Island Garden Basketball in West Hempstead. Ewing sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Knicks 92-90 loss to the Nets Friday night at the Meadowlands, the club’s second and final pre-season game of the year.

The Knicks open the season Friday in Orlando. Ewing said he hopes to play in that game. Several other Knicks are listed as ”day-to-day.” Marcus Camby (blister), Chris Childs (strained groin) and Dennis Scott (strained right hamstring) are also hurting.

Jeff Van Gundy said he was hoping to play Ewing at least 30 minutes in each pre-season game to get the center ready for the regular season. Ewing, however, played only 33 minutes total in the preseason. He missed the last 56 games of the 1997-98 regular season after dislocating his right wrist.

Backup center Chris Dudley signed a four-year $28 million deal before the start of camp. He worked extremely hard in the off-season to get in the top shape of his career and to improve his quickness. His wife also gave birth to a baby boy, so life changed for the new father, who was in charge of the 3 a.m. feeding.

”I went to bed early,” he said with a smile.

With Ewing ailing, Dudley will need to get his rest now. He struggled offensively against the Nets, missing five of six shots from the field and six of eight from the line.