While it is a longshot Charlie Ward will be available for tomorrow night’s game against Washington, there is a good chance the Knicks’ starting point guard will finally make his return for their next game, Thursday night against the Rockets.

Ward, who has missed 21 straight games and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Nov. 27, participated in his first contact practice Tuesday. Ward has said his knee feels OK and now it’s a matter of getting into game shape. Between now and the Houston game, Ward will be able to practice three more sessions, today, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ward, who was just named the NBA’s community outreach award winner for December for his charity work, is expected to return to the starting lineup with Glen Rice going back to the bench, Latrell Sprewell back to small forward and the “Big Backcourt” alignment being shelved.

Van Gundy believes the Knicks function better with a point guard. Although the Knicks are on a six-game win streak, the last three games have essentially come with a traditional alignment with Chris Childs at point guard.

The Knicks are 13-8 without Ward but were just 7-8 before the six-game streak.