"Amar'e Stoudemire performed his good deed early on Christmas, staging a 9:30 a.m. breakfast party yesterday morning for a few hundred Garden employees forced to work on the holiday.

"They work here but never get a chance to see the players — the janitors, cooks, ushers,'' Stoudemire said before yesterday's season-opening, 106-104 victory over the Celtics. "It was a great opportunity for myself to do something special for them and put smiles on their faces on Christmas.''

Stoudemire then put smiles on the faces of Knicks fans with an efficient 21-point performance (8-of-11 shooting) that included six rebounds and two blocks, one a final-minute rejection of Celtics terror Brandon Bass.

Stoudemire's highlight was draining both of his 3-point attempts, tying his career high. During training camp, he bragged about his new 3-point prowess, but did not show it much in two preseason games. Stoudemire's improved ranger could be huge because coach Mike D'Antoni wants to use center Tyson Chandler in pick-and-rolls.

"I tried to come back every year with something new to add to my game, and this year it is my 3-point shot,'' Stoudemire said. "Now I am able to exploit that now because Tyson Chandler does a great job rolling to the basket and [defenders] have to help off the wing shooters.''

D'Antoni, though he called Carmelo Anthony the club's "best player'' in his postgame press conference, went out of his way to praise the team's captain."