NBA

KNICKS FACE ROUGH ROAD

PHOENIX – Try looking at the bright side as the Knicks begin their four-game western trip here tonight. Nothing could be as discouraging as Sunday’s last-minute collapse against the previously winless Heat.

Carrying a disappointing 2-3 record into the “Valley of The Sun,” the Knicks could be entering the Valley of Darkness during this four-games-in-five-nights stretch vs. the Suns, Clippers, Kings and Nuggets.

Just last week, the Knicks were the talk of the town at 2-1. Now they could be on the precipice of disaster.

“It won’t be easy, but we have some winnable games,” David Lee said.

As Jerry Seinfeld might say, “Really?”

Zach Randolph, on bereavement leave following his grandmother’s death, and Quentin Richardson (hyperextended elbow) are expected to be out tonight and possibly tomorrow in L.A., as the Knicks could be without their two grittiest starters.

The Knicks have lost four straight times here to the Suns (5-2). The Knicks also have experienced awful matchup problems on the wing against the Clippers (4-2), who have beaten the Knicks eight straight times at home, their last win coming in 1998.

Without Richardson or Jared Jeffries, the Knicks enter the game with a dearth of small forwards.

The Kings (2-5) represent the lone winnable game, but have beaten the Knicks nine of the last 10 times in Sacramento. The Kings have new scoring machine Kelvin Martin and are getting back Ron Artest from suspension.

George Karl and Denver (4-3) will seek revenge for last week’s loss while the Knicks will be on their fourth game in five nights.

So, yes, an 0-4 trip and a 2-7 start is not inconceivable. Which is what made the 75-72 loss to Miami – during which the Knicks scored four points in the final 6:48 – so galling.

“[Miami] was desperate for a win,” Isiah Thomas said. “It was a matter of time for the team to beat somebody. Unfortunately, we have to go out on the road and steal a couple of wins.”

After playing in control for three games, the Knicks committed 20 and 19 turnovers, respectively, in consecutive losses to Orlando and Miami. After each defeat, the turnover number was the lone sketch on the locker-room greaseboard. Statistically, the Knicks were last season’s most turnover-laden team.

After Thomas implored Marbury on the need to get off to a better start than last November, Marbury has shot just 40 percent and been lax on defense. And now Marbury gets his nemesis, two-time MVP Steve Nash, whom the Suns constantly try to free up against the Knicks with a variety of screens.

“It’s a tough matchup with those guys,” Marbury said. “They run a lot of pick and rolls and that’s been our weakness.”

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With his family still finalizing funeral plans for his grandmother, Randolph likely will miss the first two games of the Knicks’ four-game trip.

When the Knicks landed here late yesterday afternoon, Randolph was still in Indiana. He is not expected to play tonight against the Suns or tomorrow in Los Angeles against the Clippers. The earliest he is expected back is Friday in Sacramento.

Meanwhile, center Jerome James was slated to undergo foot surgery yesterday that could put him out two months.

marc.berman@nypost.com