KNICK NOTES

Just when the Knicks were trying to build momentum from Monday’s victory over Boston, Keith Van Horn’s right ankle sprain has rocked Don Chaney’s world. The injury could keep him out three games.

Van Horn, coming off two solid games, missed last night’s 104-83 loss to the Lakers and appears doubtful for the weekend back-to-back.

It’s a shame, too, because Van Horn was to face his former Philly coach, Larry Brown, in Detroit tomorrow and his former team, the Sixers, Saturday.

Van Horn said it could be “five days” before he’s ready. He could barely walk at shootaround, his ankle swelling up, and was limping noticeably last night. “Probably not Friday,” he said. “I can’t see it changing that dramatically.”

“It’s frustrating not being able to play considering where most of us thought this team was headed,” Van Horn said. “It’s tough to sit these games out.”

It’s a major blow, forcing Chaney into having to play the Shandon Anderson at small forward. Anderson (13 points overall, sharing the team lead) showed energy in the first half but he doesn’t give them the size Van Horn does, as Clarence Weatherspoon was forced into playing small forward.

“I’m concerned about it,” Chaney said. “I hope Keith’s a quick healer.”

Anderson has been a turnover machine, shooting 30.8 percent, averaging just 3.8 points. His emergence last season prompted GM Scott Layden to allow Lee Nailon, now with Atlanta, to walk as a free agent.

“I expect Shandon to do a good job, he’s played better of late,” Chaney said. “He’s getting there.”

* Chaney believes Doc Rivers got a raw deal in Orlando, fired after a 1-10 start.

“The team he had was not the team he wanted,” Chaney said. “He had [Pat] Garrity injured. In this league, you win with players. You don’t have the players, it’s very hard to win. I thought he was undermanned. He has a great player in Tracy McGrady, but no matter how great he is, he’s not going to do it by himself. They should’ve been more patient with him.”

*

Knick brass turned down several media requests for last night’s game against Kobe Bryant‘s Lakers, including Celebrity Justice, Access Hollywood, Star Magazine and the Maury Povich Show.

“If we didn’t credential them for this game last year, we don’t see a need to credential them this year,” Knick P.R. chief Joe Favorito said.