NBA

DUHON ON SHELF

MINNEAPOLIS – The Knicks have rested Chris Duhon for at least two games because of his ailing back.

Duhon missed last night’s 102-94 win over the Timberwolves and will not play in Cleveland tomorrow. The Knicks hope he’s back for the Nets game at the Garden Wednesday, but there are no guarantees.

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Duhon has been awful the past two weeks. Duhon wanted to play but coach Mike D’Antoni made the decision he was hurting the club playing in his state. D’Antoni and Duhon met after the morning shootaround. Nate Robinson started at point guard.

“Chris’ back is messed up a little, but it’s been that way for a couple of weeks, so we’re not going to play in a couple of days,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll reevaluate him Tuesday.”

Duhon has played a career-high 2,384 minutes and has hit a wall. D’Antoni has admitted it’s his fault for overplaying him early this season after Stephon Marbury declined his offer to play in late November.

Duhon has experienced back spasms off and on for most of the season. Duhon is averaging 6.4 points in the last five games and been a turnover machine.

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The unraveling of the Suns could benefit the Knicks. Suns owner Robert Sarver, during the Cavaliers-Suns national telecast Thursday night, admitted he could break up the team in the offseason.

There’s speculation the Suns, expected to miss the playoffs, could use an early termination clause to release point guard Steve Nash this summer and save $7 million on his 2009-2010 wage. Nash would have to play for the $5.9 million mid-level exception but wants to come to New York.

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It seems Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale will not be voting for Robinson as the Sixth Man of the Year.

McHale wonders if Robinson would’ve survived in his era of more physical ball like the great Tiny Archibald flourished.

“Tiny Archibald was way better than Nate Robinson,” the outspoken McHale said. “Today’s game is way more benefiicial for little fellas because you can’t beat them up. There’s no handchecking. I’ll tell you, Doc Rivers would handcheck Nate into Mike D’Antoni and say, ‘Stand over there for a while.’ “