Sometimes the hardest part is earning your way back onto the airplane.

The Yankees found that out the hard way last October. They were up five runs on the Dodgers, and they were already cleaning the aisles for the flight west. Then funny things began to happen. They lost Game 5. They never did get back on the plane.

The Knicks are getting back on the plane.

They get at least one more basketball game this season, which started in October and still offers the promise of June. If they can put together another game Saturday like the one they crafted Thursday, we may yet have another opportunity to turn the lights back on at Madison Square Garden.