KNICK NOTES
Penny Hardaway vowed late Monday night that he would play despite suffering a right groin strain, and he stuck to his guns yesterday.
“I actually feel a lot better than I did when it happened [Monday] night on the floor,” Hardaway said. “I’m just getting mentally and physically prepared for [today].”
Hardaway, who’s listed as probable against Memphis, didn’t practice but said he has responded to treatment.
“Right now I feel like I can go,” he said. “I want to come out and warm up before the game and get there early.
“Sometimes you have to push through it, and sometimes you have to sit down. Right now, every game counts. We have to get as many players out there as we can.”
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Tim Thomas, who also has a right groin strain and also did not practice, was gingerly walking around with his black lowtop adidas sneakers untied. He was on the court at the end of practice as the team conducted free-throw drills.
“In my state, I can’t go out there without being 100 percent,” Thomas said. “I would love going out there and being 80 percent, but I’m far from that.
“Right now, it’s not going to happen.”