The Knicks and Rockets have had "limited" talks regarding Tracy McGrady, a source told the New York Post.

The source added that conversations could increase within the next week as Houston pushes to move McGrady and the holidays end.

"This could take a while," a source said. "The Rockets want to talk to a lot of teams."

If the Rockets eventually buyout McGrady, it could make it easier for him to land in New York.

The Knicks still have their $6 million mid-level exception and can use a portion to sign a free agent.

Tracy McGrady is squarely on the trading block and Mike D'Antoni seems intrigued.

If McGrady comes back healthy, he can make an impact and help run the Knicks' offense.

"Well, you know, that's the question," D'Antoni said about the prospect of McGrady regaining some of the game that made him a perennial all-star. "If your answer to that is yes, then you go get him. If it's no, then you probably stay away. I don't think anybody knows for sure."

Most of the Knicks' roster consists of expiring contracts, which could make working out a deal more likely.

There were two 40-plus point performances in the NBA on Tuesday night.

- Cleveland 95, Atlanta 84

The Cleveland Cavaliers (25-8) used doubled up on the Atlanta Hawks (21-9) in the fourth quarter en route to an important win. Maurice Williams had 20 points and five assists, Shaquille O?Neal posted 10 points and eight rebounds and LeBron James added 14 points, 10 dimes and eight boards. Cleveland shot 49% and turned the ball over 20 times. Jamal Crawford scored 26 points on 10-for-17 shooting, Al Horford tallied nine points and nine rebounds and Josh Smith contributed 15 points and eight boards.

- Oklahoma City 110, Washington 98

The Oklahoma City Thunder (17-14) used a big second half to defeat the Washington Wizards (10-20) at the Verizon Center. Kevin Durant starred with 35 points and 11 rebounds, Jeff Green tallied 18 points and four boards and Russell Westbrook chipped in 11 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Oklahoma City hit 54% of their shots and outrebounded Washington by seven. Antawn Jamison scored a team-high 28 points, Brendan Haywood posted 16 points and eight rebounds and Gilbert Arenas put up 24 points, eight assists and seven boards.

- New York 104, Detroit 87

The New York Knicks (12-19) dominated the Detroit Pistons (11-20) on Tuesday night. David Lee excelled with 30 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, Wilson Chandler posted 23 points and nine boards and Chris Duhon totaled 13 points and seven assists. New York shot 51% and outrebounded Detroit by eleven. Ben Gordon had 17 points, Rodney Stuckey tallied 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Richard Hamilton scored 15 points on 5-for-21 shooting in the loss.

- Chicago 104, Indiana 95

The Chicago Bulls (12-17) built a huge lead in the first quarter and held off the Indiana Pacers (9-21) at the United Center. Derrick Rose had 28 points, six assists and five rebounds, Luol Deng tallied 15 points and eight boards and Tyrus Thomas brought eight points and 15 rebounds off the bench. Chicago drilled 52% of their shot attempts and turned the ball over 21 times. Roy Hibbert led with 17 points and six rebounds, Luther Head scored 10 points on 4-for-10 shooting and Earl Watson added 10 points and six assists.

- Houston 108, New Orleans 100

The Houston Rockets (19-13) outscored the New Orleans Hornets (13-16) 34-18 in the fourth quarter to record a comeback win on Tuesday night. Aaron Brooks scored 27 points, Luis Scola posted 13 points and 12 rebounds and Carl Landry contributed 18 points and six boards off the bench. New Orleans shot 50%, but Houston went 12-for-23 from three-point land and attempted 12 more foul shots. David West exploded for 44 points and 12 rebounds, Emeka Okafor tallied nine points and six boards and Chris Paul stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

- San Antonio 117, Minnesota 99

The San Antonio Spurs (18-11) had a relatively easy time dispatching of the Minnesota Timberwolves (7-25). Richard Jefferson had 24 points and six rebounds, Tim Duncan tallied 17 points and 10 boards and Manu Ginobili put up 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds off the bench. San Antonio held Minnesota to 39% shooting and hit 12-for-24 three-pointers at home. Al Jefferson had 20 points and eight rebounds, Kevin Love posted 18 points and 12 boards and Jonny Flynn scored 17 points on 14 shots.

- L.A. Lakers 124, Golden State 118

The Los Angeles Lakers (25-6) staged a second-half comeback against the pesky Golden State Warriors (9-22). Kobe Bryant starred with 44 points and 11 assists, Pau Gasol posted 27 points and 12 boards and Lamar Odom contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds. Golden State hit 55% of their shots, but Los Angeles won the rebounding battle and attempted more free throws. Corey Maggette scored a team-high 25 points, Monta Ellis tallied 22 points and seven assists and C.J. Watson totaled 14 points and four assists in the loss.

? RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)

( )'s indicate a negative FIC score.

It is also used to rank players and to determine their ?Reina Value.? Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season

It's looking more and more likely that the Knicks will simply bench center Eddy Curry for the remainder of the season.

Curry hopes that New York buys him out.

The Knicks could save another $2 million in cap room in 2010 if Curry agrees to take $9.3 million of the $11.3 million he has left in the final year of his contract.

"It's tough for Eddy not to have a big role," coach Mike D'Antoni said.

"When you just throw him in three minutes, the team doesn't adjust well and he doesn't adjust well. The circumstances are not real adjustable right now. He doesn't give us a chance to win as much as he should and it's not his fault. We do not want to change the way we are playing. Jonathan [Bender] allows us to be able to do that."

The Knicks are referring to Jonathan Bender as part of "the future."

New York coach Mike D'Antoni said that Bender gives the team a chance to win without changing their up-tempo style, referring obviously to the situation surrounding center Eddy Curry.

Bender's one-year contract won't be guaranteed until Jan. 10, but D'Antoni said that the forward, who hadn't played in several seasons before signing with the Knicks, could return next season.

Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks has been fined $25,000 for public statements detrimental to the NBA.

The statements, which concerned a trade request, were made by Robinson's agent, Aaron Goodwin, on Dec. 19.

The NBA could fine Knicks guard Nate Robinson for his agent asking the team to trade him.

A club source told the New York Daily News that the league has investigated comments made by agent Aaron Goodwin in which he criticized Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni for benching Robinson.

"I can't allow Nate to rot on Mike's bench and not do anything about it. I can't allow this to happen to his career," Goodwin said on Dec. 19. "It's clear that Mike D'Antoni doesn't want to play him."

The league will fine Robinson if it decides he did instruct Goodwin to publicly demand a trade.

In September, the league fined Stephen Jackson $25,000 for, in demanding a trade, making "public statements detrimental to the NBA."

The relationship between Knicks center Eddy Curry and head coach Mike D'Antoni is clearly on the rocks.

Curry said Friday that he was frustrated by his playing time and that New York should release him if they aren't going to play him.

He told the New York Post that president Donnie Walsh has talked to him about his concerns, but that D'Antoni has yet to speak with him.

"As a player you always want to know what's going on," Curry said. "That's his style I guess. I'm not in any position to question his style. I'm just going to roll with it and hopefully I'll get out there."

"He understands right now where we are," D'Antoni said in a comment that completely contradicted what the center said.

Curry doesn't think D'Antoni can find a fit for him in the team's system because he is a post player.

"I feel like I do [fit in]," Curry said. "[But] it's not my team. I'll keep approaching it as if it is the right fit for me as long as I'm here. They have the power to change it. Until they decide I'm not the right fit by moving me, I'm assuming I'm the right fit."

He is averaging 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in seven games this season. Curry hasn't appeared in New York's last four games.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade crushed fans in New York on Friday when he said that he hasn't thought of playing for the Knicks.

Wade, along with LeBron James, will be a free agent after the season.

"I don't ever think about the possibility of joining the Knicks," Wade said after Miami beat New York on Christmas. "I think of the possibility of the summer. It's going to be a very tough summer thinking about where my future will be."

Wade was then asked if free agents should consider the Knicks a top destination.

"It depends if they're looking to be here. A lot of people are happy with where they are. New York is a great, great place, but it depends on if the player is looking to leave," he responded.

Heat star Dwyane Wade is confident that Nate Robinson will make a full comeback from his situation in New York.

Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni has benched Robinson in eleven straight contests. On Friday, the crowd at Madison Square Garden chanted for Robinson numerous times.

"Nate is a little fighter," said Wade. "For him not to be out there and for them to be winning this way, it's a true testament to them and their confidence. It's unfortunate that Nate is not out there, but there's a lot of guys who went through that and had the opportunity to come back up."