Van Gundy Safe For Now

The New York Knicks finally finished a game with some flourish and possibly saved coach Jeff Van Gundy’s job Sunday night by beating the visiting Charlotte Hornets 94-86.

It was just the fourth victory in the last 10 games for the Knicks, whose mediocre start marked by an alarming lack of effort and a series of late-game flops has reportedly put the coach’s job in jeopardy.

NBC reported Sunday afternoon that Van Gundy would be fired if the Knicks lost, and the coach seemed to take this report more seriously than he took similar reports in the past.

“It’s part of the business. And if we play like we did in Chicago, someone’s got to pay,” Van Gundy said, making a reference to his team’s abysmal effort Friday night when they managed only 33 points through three quarters.

In this game, the Knicks used their trademark - defense - to decide things down the stretch.

Lakers excuse Rodman’s absence

Los Angeles Lakers executives Jerry West and Mitch Kupchak have been in contact with a representative for absent forward Dennis Rodman, a team spokesman said, and Rodman apparently will be paid for the games he misses during his sabbatical.

Do the Lakers consider it an excused absence?

“You could phrase it that way,” spokesman John Black said.

But the Lakers don’t know when Rodman, who earns $12,195 a game, will rejoin his teammates while he deals with personal issues, Black said.

Coach Kurt Rambis said Rodman did inform him that he would return to the fold at some point.

Shaquille O’Neal said the Laker players understand Rodman’s plight.

“He has personal problems,” O’Neal said. “Kurt and Mitch have excused him to handle his personal business. And we have a gracious organization that allows players to take care of their problems.

The Lakers lost their perfect record under Rambis on Sunday night when Jason Williams’ 21 points led the host Sacramento Kings to a 105-101 victory.

On the court

Alonzo Mourning had 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Miami Heat won their 10th straight home game and spoiled Stephon Marbury’s New Jersey debut by beating the Nets 102-76 Sunday in Miami.

At Phoenix, Jason Kidd recorded his sixth triple-double of the season as the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 12-point deficit for a 104-90 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Mitch Richmond scored 23 points and the Washington Wizards overcame a horrendous start to hand the Milwaukee Bucks a 98-86 loss.