MIAMI — The Knicks had hoped to get Baron Davis on the court on their current four-game road trip. But he hasn’t looked good enough during scrimmages for that to happen.
Coach Mike D’Antoni, whose team lost to the Heat 99-89 last night, said it was unlikely Davis will make his Knicks debut tonight in Houston, though he has had no setbacks.
Tuesday at Madison Square Garden against the Pistons would be the most likely date for Davis to return. The Knicks had wanted to start Davis during this trip in a less-pressurized environment but as of yesterday, the point guard didn’t have his game back.
“He doesn’t have a pop yet,’’ D’Antoni said. “We’ll wait until he can be NBA ready. He’s not quite there yet.’’
That D’Antoni used the word “pop’’ as opposed to rustiness could be a bad sign. At age 33 and after suffering from herniated discs, Davis may never actually regain that “pop,” which the Knicks need from their point guard in the coach’s speedball system.
But then again, Davis doesn’t have to be the same Davis even from last year to be an upgrade.
“He is not in NBA game shape and he is not having the pop,’’ D’Antoni said. “He is going to have to get it back a little bit and we don’t know when that comes. Hopefully sooner than later.’’
* Former Knick Eddy Curry, who signed with the Heat in early December, was surrounded by a couple of dozen media members at yesterday’s morning shoot-around, but he did not want to unload on his old team.
“I’m trying to look at it as another game,’’ Curry said. “I’m trying to take it normal.’’
Curry, who has lost between 75 and 100 pounds from his previous playing weight, was asked if he had any reflection on his sour Knicks stint.
“I don’t think about it,” he said. “I leave that in the past.’’
Curry did not play in last’s night Heat win, despite telling the Palm Beach Post last month he had circled the game on his calendar.
* Toney Douglas started in place of Carmelo Anthony, who sat out last night with various injuries. Landry Fields moved from shooting guard to small forward.
D’Antoni on Anthony’s decision to sit out last night and probably tonight in Houston: “He didn’t think he could influence the result as he normally does.” … Former Knicks president Isiah Thomas, coach at nearby Florida International University, sat on the baseline near the visitors’ bench, next to agent and power broker William Wesley. D’Antoni did not acknowledge Thomas’ presence.