Michael Redd Not Expected to Play for the Bucks Vs. the Knicks in New York

Michael Redd is not expected to play in New York tonight as the Bucks and Knicks square off for the fourth and final time this season. 

The one-time All-Star Redd, trying to return to action after 14 months recuperating from knee surgery, earlier this week said he wanted to play "Friday or Saturday."

But before Wednesday's Bucks-Kings game coach Scott Skiles said the soonest Redd would be active was Saturday, "That's (Saturday) what we're shooting for now. We'll see. It's the same type of situation. When they determine he's ready to go, we'll activate him and we'll see."

Of course, Skiles said the same thing about big forward Drew Gooden, who was activated before the Kings game but was left sitting on the bench.

The Bucks have won two of the three meetings with the Knicks this season, including a 100-95 win over New York last Sunday.

The last time the Bucks faced the Knicks in the Garden, it was Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups' Feb. 23 debut in New York, where fans were treated to a gutsy 114-108 Knicks win. 

The Knicks have struggled since that game, going 6-and-10 and losing seven of their last eight.

The Bucks -- though stumbling in their race with the Pacers and Bobcats for the NBA ignobility that is the No. 8 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference -- have been the better team.  Since they last saw Madison Square Garden, the Bucks have won six and lost seven.

FULL PREVIEW here of the inexorably linked frustrations of Carmelo and the Milwaukee Bucks (Melo's last game as a Nugget was a win over the Bucks, and they'll have met five times this season).