KNICK NOTES

Tim Thomas is almost as doubtful for Game 4 tonight as all of us doubt the Knicks can still make this a series.

“We’ll talk and see how he’s feeling,” said Lenny Wilkens. “I wouldn’t anticipate it.”

That seemed to be an excellent guess since Thomas yesterday was not encouraged by anything he tried while his teammates practiced.

“I was wishing for today to be a good test for me to try to get out and practice,” he said. “I did some running, tried some foot movement type things, trying to push off. But my whole right side is locked up.

“I’m doing everything possible. Needles, electrical stimulation. you name it. Mud is next. The ankle is a bone bruise, as sore as anything. But I can play with that. I have no mobility on my whole right side.

“I will get back on the court after getting treatment. I’ll be here all afternoon. I will do everything possible to get on a basketball court. If I get to the point where I can play through the pain then I’m fine. But I’m spasming up.”

*

Wilkens on Frank Williams’ strong efforts against Jason Kidd, which limited the Net floor general to two points and two assists almost 29 minutes into Game 3: “Frank did a very good job. We will not hesitate to have him in the game.”

Wilkens on Nazr Mohammad, who played 33 minutes (18 points, seven rebounds, one block) in Game 6, while Dikembe Mutombo was only on the floor for two minutes:

“If we can keep Nazr in the game he will give us something. His biggest problem is picking up cheap fouls early.

“He has gotten some touch calls that I wasn’t really happy about. If that’s the way the game is being called, you can’t reach, you have to move your body.”

*

The Knicks are trying to avoid being swept for the first time since 1991 (by the Bulls in a best-of-five).

The last time the Knicks lost four straight in a series was to the 1983 World Champion Sixers.

It would be the seventh time they have been swept in their history, including best of-threes in 1947, 1959, and 1981.