"There really is no need for Amar'e Stoudemire to rush back from a sprained left ankle. Not this season with so many games and so few off days, and not with the Knicks' next five games coming against teams that all failed to make the playoffs last season.

The reality, though, is that the Knicks' offense finally clicked on Saturday night in Sacramento with Stoudemire conspicuously absent from the lineup. That's even more reason to stick with a good thing and give the All-Star power forward proper time to heal.

That doesn't mean the Knicks don't need Stoudemire. They aren't a contending team without him. The problem, though, is that the Knicks need to find a way to run efficiently with Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony on the floor together.

The Knicks went 14-18 last season following the celebrated Melo trade with Denver. That includes four playoff losses to Boston and doesn't include the team's 2-2 record this season. Saturday's 114-92 victory in Sacramento made the Knicks 1-0 when one of their two All-Stars doesn't play.

"(Saturday) we made shots," Anthony said. "Everybody made shots. Josh (Harrellson) made shots and if that was Amar'e, he probably would have done the same thing. It really doesn't matter. When Amar'e was out there at the time we didn't make shots and it cost us some games."

The game — and perceptions — usually comes down to making or missing shots. But on Saturday, the Knicks were getting better looks at the basket because they were moving the ball instead of alternating between giving Anthony and Stoudemire the chance to "get theirs," so to speak.

Harrellson, the second-round pick from Kentucky, knocked down four of the Knicks 10 3-pointers. Landry Fields and Toney Douglas scored 21 and 17 points, respectively. Tyson Chandler scored 22 points in 24 minutes and when the Kings elected not to double team Anthony (23 points, 11-13 free throws) it cost them dearly. Afterward, Mike D'Antoni didn't deny that with only one of his Alpha scorers available the offense naturally flowed better."