NBA

Mike Woodson remains confident ax won’t fall

OKLAHOMA CITY — Mike Woodson vowed he’ll be walking in Memphis after the All-Star break.

That was Woodson’s promise Sunday as he said he expects to be coaching the Knicks against the Grizzlies in the first game after the All-Star break Feb. 18. Woodson is already planning to hold their first practice in Memphis after the break in the arena off Beale Street.

Woodson’s remarks came in the wake of Detroit’s Maurice Cheeks becoming the first NBA coach to be fired this season. And Cheeks’ Pistons are ahead of the Knicks in the standings by a game.

Woodson, speaking before Sunday’s 112-100 loss to the Thunder, acknowledged his job status is “dangling,’’ but he is not singing the Memphis blues despite speculation he could be canned entering the break.

Asked if he expects to be coaching the team in Memphis, Woodson said “Sure I do. Sure I expect to be coaching. Absolutely.’’

Knicks owner James Dolan, following last Monday’s loss to league-worst Milwaukee, had started contemplating making a coaching change, a source had said. But the Knicks righted the sinking ship in an impressive rout over Denver on Friday to halt a three-game losing streak before going down on Sunday to the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, the Thunder.

The Knicks face the Kings on Wednesday before the break. The Knicks are 20-31 and two games out of a playoff berth. Carmelo Anthony appears to be behind Woodson, saying Friday the team’s “inconsistencies’’ have come from not playing hard enough. Woodson still feels he has the support of the players and front office.

Knicks president Steve Mills, who has attended almost every game, was at Sunday’s game. He hasn’t spoken to the media since the regular season began.

“I’m still coaching the Knicks,’’ Woodson said. “That’s how I look at it. If I didn’t have the support, I’d probably be looking for the job. That’s not the case. Guys are in my corner. I got to keep pushing guys.

“The team has never really quit. The team has been competitive with peaks and valleys. I thought versus Portland [Wednesday] we competed and [Friday] we were good beginning to end.

“They know it’s dangling. My theme to our players[ is] ‘Woodson is a big boy.’ He’s been around the block a few times. It’s part of the business if it happens. You can’t worry about me. It’s never been about me. It’s about the makeup of the team. Coach plays a major role, but at end of the day players still have to be together and play at a high level.’’