CHICAGO, April 10 (AP)-- New York guard Stephon Marbury missed his third straight game because of a sprained right big toe when the Knicks played the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.

Coach Isiah Thomas hopes to have Marbury back Friday, when New York visits New Jersey.

The Knicks, who are barely hanging on in the playoff race, have been hit hard by injuries and illness. They were missing four of their top five scorers with Marbury, guard Jamal Crawford (right ankle stress fracture), forward Quentin Richardson (back surgery) and forward David Lee (right leg pain) nursing injuries. They were also without forward Renaldo Balkman, who stayed home with a stomach virus and missed his second consecutive game.

Guard Steve Francis had missed five straight with a sprained right ankle before playing Monday against Detroit. He was ejected during the fourth quarter of that loss.