The New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats both enter Wednesday's game at Madison Square short-handed, but they do so under very different circumstances.

The Knicks will have just nine players available for Wednesday's game, following the suspensions of four players for their roles in Saturday's ugly on-court brawl against the Denver Nuggets.

Nate Robinson and Mardy Collins have the most time remaining on their suspensions, and will be sidelined for another eight and four games, respectively. Jared Jeffries will be able to return in another two games, while Jerome James is eligible to return on Wednesday after serving his one-game suspension for leaving the bench area.

New York (10-17) also remains without two key injured players - Steve Francis (knee) and Quentin Richardson (back spasms). Francis is listed as inactive for Wednesday while Richardson is questionable for the contest.

``We know that this is going to be a tough task for us,'' Stephon Marbury said.

The Knicks guard had one of his best games of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday, scoring 29 points - including the game-winning layup as time expired - while adding eight assists and five rebounds in a 97-96 overtime win.

Marbury has struggled all season, averaging a career-low 12.2 points per game, and has been a frequent target of frustrated Knicks fans.

``I was really happy for him,'' coach Isiah Thomas said of Marbury. ``Again, he's from New York and he understands the city better than any of us, the ups and downs of it. And you know the toughness that he has of just grinding it out through the bad times, just grinding it out and fighting for Stephon Marbury.''

Marbury, who also scored 31 points in Saturday's loss to the Nuggets, is averaging 15.4 points in his last 11 games after averaging just 9.9 in the previous 16.

Marbury hasn't played well against the Bobcats (6-17), averaging just 16.3 points in six career games - his lowest average against any opponent.

Bobcats point guard Brevin Knight is expected to miss his second straight game with a sore groin. Knight, who is averaging 12.2 points and 7.2 assists, also sat out Saturday's 106-100 loss to the Boston Celtics. Derek Anderson is expected to replace Knight in the lineup, with Raymond Felton moving to point guard.

Knight is not the only injured Bobcat. Sean May will miss seven to 10 days because of a sprained ankle he sustained on Saturday.

``The good thing about it was as soon as it happened I got all my weight off of it,'' May said following Saturday's game. ``That probably saved me a few weeks right there. It got really swollen.''

The absences create further problems for an already meager Charlotte offense. The Bobcats' 43.2 field-goal percentage ranks last in the NBA, and their 91.7 points per game is ahead of only the New Orleans Hornets.

On Saturday, Charlotte had a five-point lead with 3:48 left, but failed to score in the next three minutes as the Celtics rallied. The loss was the fifth in six games for the Bobcats.

Charlotte, however is looking for its fourth straight win over the Knicks. The Bobcats swept the three-game series between the teams last season.