NBA

MARBURY WANTS FINE SETTLED BEFORE DISCUSSING BUYOUT

Stephon Marbury said yesterday he won’t discuss a buyout with Donnie Walsh until his fine of two games’ pay – $400,000 – is settled by a league arbitrator.

Walsh said he wants to dedicate early January to coming up with a suitable number that would set Marbury free and open a roster spot by Jan. 5 so the Knicks can sign a player to a 10-day deal.

When told of Walsh’s plan, Marbury said he first wants to settle his legal dispute with the Knicks. The Knicks docked him for allegedly refusing to play vs. Detroit on Thanksgiving Eve.

Marbury said he expects to get an arbitration date this week, feeling he has strong legal arguments to win the case.

“Before I listen to what Donnie has to say, I want the $400,000 that was taken for no reason,” Marbury told The Post. “[D’Antoni] made a choice not to play me. There was no jersey hanging in my locker.”

Even if he was mistreated by D’Antoni during the season’s first month, there is little sympathy from Knicks fans for Marbury’s current plight. Had Marbury accepted D’Antoni’s desperate offer to be their starting shooting guard Nov. 26, the Knicks may be in a better place than they are now.

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Quentin Richardson said his sprained ankle has healed enough to play today vs. Denver and denied he sat out Friday because of the lowly competition to rest up for the stronger Nuggets. Richardson was the target of jokes from a couple of teammates in the locker room before the Minnesota game for not playing. Richardson seemed fine at the morning shootaround. “I’m not playing because it was Minnesota,” Richardson said. “If I could’ve played, I’d have played.” . . . Carmelo Anthony (elbow) is expected to return from a three-game absence.