KNICK NOTES

CHARLESTON – Allan Houston supported Jason Kidd yesterday, feeling only the player knows what he has to do to get his body right.

The rehabbing Kidd was fined by the Nets for his boycott of the night practice sessions. Houston and Kidd have each undergone microfracture knee surgeries. Houston is also rehabbing and occasionally apart from the Knicks.

“Jason has to do whatever he has to do to get back with them,” Houston said. “If it means getting his rest, working out for two, three hours and getting his body rested, that’s what it means. When he gets back, nobody will question that missed night session. I’m happy Isiah [Thomas] and our doctors have been supportive [of] what I have to do to get back right and ready.”

Houston hasn’t ruled out the Nov. 3 season opener. He’s doing more basketball drills but is not ready to scrimmage. Houston disagreed with Isiah’s remark that the Knicks don’t want Houston to play much in preseason for fear of him being reinjured in a meaningless game.

“It has nothing to do with that,” Houston said. “Everything I’m doing now is progressing toward playing at a high level. I’m not going to go out there until I can do that. I don’t want to come out here and play at just a mediocre level.”

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Because of tough early schedule, Thomas predicts a modest start. “Look at our first 20 games, we’d be lucky if you’re .500 after those first 20 games,” he said. November includes a vicious four-game trip (Indiana, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas).