51.   Baker stepped out of street clothes Thursday and back into the lineup after missing two games with a strained left hamstring.

52.   Back in the lineup after missing two games was Sergei Nemchinov, the center who usually works on the checking line.

53.   Back in the lineup was Joe Kocur, who had missed six games with back problems.

54.   Because of knees problems, he rarely practiced during the second half of last season, but did not miss a game.

55.   Because NBA rules stipulate a team must have nine players for a playoff game, only three Knicks can miss the game.

56.   Because it was the postseason, Bryant played through the pain and did not miss a game.

57.   Because the Lakers activated Jelani McCoy, Shaq has to miss five games.

58.   Best has missed eight games this season with a pulled hamstring and strained lower back.

59.   Beukeboom missed three games with the injury, played two, then sat out the last two with the suspension.

60.   Beginning with his high school days in Westfield, N.J., and at Duke, Brown never missed a game because of an injury.