D'Antoni: Banged-up Knicks 'running short on time'

The Knicks headed to Washington yesterday to visit a team that is having a worse time of it than they are.

After a 2-3 homestand left the Knicks nine games under .500, Mike D'Antoni knows his squad could be in trouble.

"We're running out of time," the coach said after his "banged up" team went through a 10-minute walk through as they prepared for tonight's game against the Wizards (8 p.m., MSG, ESPN 1050) and at Minnesota tomorrow. "It wasn't a great homestand, obviously, but we have a chance to get back. We'll keep fighting and see what we do."

They should have a good chance to get back on the right track tonight against a team that is going through more turmoil than any in the league. The Wizards are struggling in the aftermath of the season-long suspensions of Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton after they brought guns into the locker room.

"They still have a lot of talent," D'Antoni said of the Wizards. "They just have had a rough year, but on any given night, they still have guys that can play."

The Knicks, however, are unsure who they will have in the lineup. Jared Jeffries and Al Harrington underwent medical tests yesterday.

"We'll see who's available," D'Antoni said.

Jeffries was diagnosed with a right knee bone bruise. He is questionable for tonight. Harrington's left knee also has been hurting, but the tests didn't reveal any damage.

"I expect [Jeffries] to play," D'Antoni said. "I think both of them are OK."

Jeffries, in particular, has become an important part to the Knicks as they try to make a push for the playoffs.

"I'm happy for Jared, he's playing really well and getting his confidence up," D'Antoni said. "Every game he's getting a little bit better. He guards so many people and he's able to frustrate a lot of things."

And that has helped the Knicks find the limited success that they've had.

"He's just a key to our defense and what we did to get better," D'Antoni said. "You do miss a guy like that."

D'Antoni is also concerned about the upcoming competition and thinks the team needs to have a sense of urgency if they want to keep things interesting before free agency in the offseason.

"There is [urgency]," D'Antoni said. "Because Chicago, Charlotte and Toronto, three teams we're looking up at are really playing well. And we lose, so it complicates our ultimate objective. But you never know what's gonna happen. We may have to get lucky a little bit. And just win."

That figures to be easier to do with Jeffries on the court, regardless of who is the opponent. But losses like the one they suffered at the Garden on Thursday, when they blew a late five-point lead to the Raptors, are especially damaging.

"They've got good energy and I don't see them letting down," D'Antoni said of his expectations following the ugly defeat that ended with an ineffective final inbounds play and Harrington missing an ill-advised floater. "I think they'll come fighting back."