KNICK NOTES

OAKLAND – Carrying Clarence Weatherspoon into the locker room proved tougher last night than taking out the Warriors.

‘Spoon sprained his right ankle late in the third quarter of the Knicks’ 94-70 rout of Golden State last night and did not return. After the game, Kurt Thomas and Othella Harrington helped him off the court and into the locker room.

It was such a long walk to the dressing room, they were struggling at the end carrying the hefty Weatherspoon.

The Knicks’ power forward underwent X-rays that proved negative but he is doubtful for tonight’s game in Phoenix.

“They didn’t see anything broken,” ‘Spoon said. “That’s the good part. The bad part is it’s very sore.”

‘Spoon said he’s still hoping to play tonight.

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Not only did Van Gundy stick with Mark Jackson as his starting point guard last night, but the Knicks coach came to his defense beforehand.

Van Gundy, who kept the same starting lineup but admitted some players are on a “short leash,” said his starting point guard has taken too much of the heat for the Knicks’ first six disgraceful defensive performances on the road before last night.

“When Mark makes a mistake defensively, everyone says, ‘Oh, man, he can’t guard anybody,’ ” Van Gundy said. “When others make mistakes defensively, it’s more overlooked.

“I would say Mark would be better off with more size behind him to make up for his little deficiencies but so would other guys who are given a free pass defensively.”

Jackson is one of the better passing point guards to ever play for the Knicks, but his reputation has always been that he’s a step slow defensively.

“Bottom line is, individually and collectively, we have to get the job done,” Jackson said. “It’s easy when a guy has a rap being a bad defender or not being as good as the next man. It’s easy to throw it on him. I understand that. If we have passing woes, I could be the one causing them all but nobody will say it’s my fault.”

The Knicks are amid a point-guard mess in which none of their expensive trio that combines to make more than $14 million this season has played well.

Charlie Ward is currently out of the rotation but Howard Eisley suddenly can’t hit a shot.

Jackson had a solid game with eight points and nine assists last night.

Kurt Thomas (sprained left ankle) suited up last night and scored 10 points with seven rebounds in a gutty effort. Thomas participated in the morning shootaround at the University of San Francisco but was gimpy, saying his status was “a game-time decision.

Van Gundy was amused when he learned during the shootaround that the Knicks-Golden State game had been bumped from MSG Network to “Metro.”

“It’s seen by four people,” Van Gundy cracked. “Even our own people are shutting us out. That will show you where you rank.”

Van Gundy tried to play down his blame-me speech from Monday. “I wasn’t doing a mea culpa routine,” he said. “I was asked a question what I thought about Scott [Layden]. Those are my honest feelings. I got to do better. They got to do better.”