Fractured Kneecap Will Sideline McDyess

In another damaging blow to the New York Knicks, forward Antonio McDyess will be sidelined indefinitely because of a fractured left kneecap.

The Knicks announced the news Sunday, a day after McDyess injured the knee with 1:55 left in an exhibition game loss to the Phoenix Suns.

The injury was initially diagnosed as a hyperextension, but an MRI exam revealed the fracture.

“This is a devastating blow for Antonio, knowing how hard he has worked up to this point,” Knick President Scott Layden said. The injury happened to the same knee that was operated on last season, sidelining McDyess for all but 10 games.

McDyess will get a second opinion, and a course of treatment will then be determined. Layden said there was no damage to the patella tendon repaired a year ago.

“Our medical staff feels this is not a career-threatening injury,” Layden said.

McDyess is the second Knick starter to be sidelined by an injury. Guard Latrell Sprewell arrived for training camp with a broken right hand and the Knicks fined him $250,000 and told him to stay away from the team for failing to report the injury in a timely manner.

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Forward Marcus Fizer of the Chicago Bulls was charged with having a loaded gun in his car and driving with a suspended license early Sunday morning in Chicago.

Illinois State Police Sgt. Wayne Winterberg said Fizer was pulled over just past 2 a.m. for having tinted windows on his sport-utility vehicle.

Police then found Fizer was driving with a suspended license. While preparing to tow his car, police searched it and found a .40-caliber gun, Winterberg said.