KNICK NOTES

With Knicks doctor Norman Scott watching Antonio McDyess’ every move, the forward worked out on the Garden court before yesterday’s matinee vs. the Hornets, running sprints and taking dozens of low-post turn-around shots against player-development coach Tyrone Corbin.

Next time McDyess steps on the Garden hardwood, it’s expected to be for real.

McDyess will go full-tilt in today’s five-on-five scrimmage at the team’s Westchester practice facility. As long as he doesn’t wake up sore the next morning, McDyess will make his Knicks debut tomorrow night against the Pistons at the Garden.

McDyess said he won’t announce officially whether he’s definitely playing after today’s practice, preferring to wait until game day.

“I’ll wait to the next day, that morning, [but] I’ll have a good idea,” McDyess said. “If I get up this one particular day and I’m sore, I don’t want to let myself down.”

The Knicks already are making preparations for McDyess’ debut, which will be the first day of a new month and, possibly, in Scott Layden’s fantasy, the first day of a new Knicks era.

Don Chaney said he will huddle with Scott, the trainers and McDyess after the scrimmage to map out a game plan detailing the amount of minutes he should get the first few weeks. McDyess has played 10 games in two seasons.

“We want to get some type of goal in terms of minutes and not get carried away with how well he’s playing,” Chaney said. “Or how poorly he’s playing.”

Expect 10 minutes on his first night. Chaney said he likely won’t start McDyess as a symbolic gesture in his debut.

“It’s not fair to him,” Chaney said.

* When McDyess is activated, rookie PF Michael Sweetney is expected to go on the injured list. Sweetney, who failed to make the rotation, has looked lost in nine appearances and could stand to lose a few pounds.

If Sweetney is deactivated, all of Layden’s 2003 draft picks will be on the injured list: Sweetney, Maciej Lampe and Slavko Vranes.