Stephon Marbury did not accompany the Knicks' trip south for its game Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, but he was still part of the pregame conversation: Coach Isiah Thomas indicated the club would fight the grievance that Marbury filed which stemmed from his being fined a game's pay for skipping a trip to Phoenix in mid-November.

Thomas said the Knicks would not reconsider the fine which approaches $200,000 of the $20-million-plus salary Marbury is scheduled to make this season.