Knicks Sign Forward Matt Fish to 10-Day Contract

PHOENIX (AP) _ The New York Knicks, desperate for rebounding help, signed center Matt Fish to a 10-day contract Saturday.

Fish, who played 26 games last season for the Los Angeles Clippers, will be in uniform Sunday as the Knicks play the Phoenix Suns on national television.

``Nothing like being thrown right into the mix, national TV with Marv Albert,″ Fish said.

The Knicks are without their two leading rebounders, Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley. Ewing is expected to miss Sunday and Monday’s games because of a sprained ankle, and Oakley is on the injured list with a broken thumb.

New York was outrebounded 54-38 in a loss to Atlanta on Friday night. Starting center Brad Lohaus had just one rebound in 27 minutes and backup J.R. Reid had two in 19 minutes.

Fish, a 6-foot-11 center, was averaging 15.2 points and 9.4 rebounds for Fort Wayne of the CBA. He reached double figures in points and rebounds in 14 of the last 16 games.

``I finally got my average up and some people started noticing me,″ Fish said. ``Hopefully I can provide some of that rebounding the Knicks have been missing.″

Fish averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds for the Clippers last year. He was cut by the Detroit Pistons earlier this season after breaking two ribs by coughing too hard.