Mardy Collins returned to the Knicks' lineup after serving a six-game suspension and scored 11 points in 22 minutes.

It was the rookie guard's flagrant foul against Denver's J.R. Smith that triggered a brawl at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 16, resulting in the ejection of all 10 players on the court at the time and additional suspensions for teammates Nate Robinson (10 games), Jared Jeffries (four) and Jerome James (one).

"Anytime you sit out for a number of games, you always want to get back out there and play," Collins said. "The NBA decided that six games was enough, so I just had to deal with it. We're still short-handed at guard, so it's time for me to get some playing time, show people that I'm not that type of player, and I can actually play basketball the right way."

New York is 4-3 since the brawl.

The Los Angeles Clippers are no longer in the running to swing a trade for Ron Artest, general manager Elgin Baylor said Saturday.

"As far as anything goes with Ron Artest, that's a dead issue," Baylor said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We're no longer talking to Sacramento about Artest ? that's not going to happen."

The Sacramento Kings contacted the Clippers last week to discuss the possibility of a trade for the former NBA defensive player of the year. The Kings did not, however, follow up the opening talks with a formal trade proposal.

Baylor said the Clippers are still looking at other possible deals.

"We're always looking to improve the team," Baylor said, according to the Times. "We talk to teams regularly about players we're interested in, players that we think can help us, and we'll also listen if someone comes to us with something that we think makes sense for us. That's what you have to do when you're trying to win."

The Clippers and Spurs have reportedly discussed a Corey Maggette deal.

But one NBA source said Saturday a trade between the teams likely "won't happen."

One Spurs' official said that Maggette would likely get fewer minutes in San Antonio than he is in Los Angeles.  Maggette's playing time has been a key factor in his trade request.

Even though trade discussions between the Kings and Clippers have apparently ended, Corey Maggette remains very available.

?The Clippers want to get rid of Maggette in the worst way,? said one league general manager. ?And Artest had worn out his welcome in Sacramento halfway through last year. The thing that gets me is that Iverson gets a rap when you think about these two. At least Iverson goes out and tries to win for you every night.?

The Clippers and Kings meet on Friday night for the first time since Ron Artest and Corey Maggette trade rumors began to pop up.

Sacramento reportedly called the Clippers regarding a trade, but never made a formal proposal.

Talks now appear to be dead, despite the fact that reports earlier in the week described a trade as 'imminent.'

The Clippers came into Wednesday's game versus Boston as losers of seven of their previous eight games.

Reports indicated that a swap of Corey Maggette for Ron Artest was imminent, but another day passed without a confirmation.

"We're trying to get going and get on a roll," Clippers forward Elton Brand said.

According to sources, a Ron Artest for Corey Maggette trade could happen soon.

Both teams appear eager to part ways with their small forwards.

The players have similar contracts, so there aren't salary-cap problems to complete a deal.

Artest is owed the remainder of his $7.5-million salary this season, is guaranteed $7.4 million next season and has a player option for $7.4 million in the 2008-09 season.

Maggette makes $7 million this season, $7 million next season and also has a player option for $7 million in 2008-09.

Elgin Baylor attempted to facilitate a reconciliation between Corey Maggette and Mike Dunleavy, but it proved fruitless.  The friction between player and coach has increased the Clippers' eagerness to discuss a Ron Artest deal with the Kings.

Maggette recently revealed that he does not "see eye to eye" with Dunleavy.

Sam Cassell has plantar fasciitis in his left foot, which may force him to miss some action.

"I've got to get this out of my system, so I might have to sit down," Cassell told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday night. "I need to be on the floor to help this basketball team, but with me playing eight or nine minutes here, 10 minutes there ... it's just not going to work. I just can't do my job this way.

"I have a high threshold for pain, and I play through pain, but I can't be effective if I keep doing what I'm doing," he told the Times. "When your team needs you, you want to be there for them, but this thing is no joke."

A high-ranking source within the Clippers organization told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday that the club was discussing a deal with the Kings for Ron Artest.

The Clippers attempted to acquire Artest last season when he sought a deal out of Indiana.  This season, he apparently wants out of Sacramento.

Similar to the situation last season, the Clippers would send Corey Maggette in exchange for Artest.

The two teams held discussions on Friday and they are expected to resume on Sunday.