It's unclear whether the star guard will play against the Clippers.

Earlier Tuesday, the team fined Marbury more than $180,000 for missing the Suns game, the latest clash between the disgruntled point guard and coach Isiah Thomas.

The Knicks sent Marbury a letter informing him of the fine, according to a person with knowledge of the penalty who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday. He requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss it. The Knicks would not confirm the fine.

According to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, players are docked 1/110th of their salaries for a missed game without a reasonable excuse. With Marbury scheduled to earn $20.1 million this season, that would be about $182,800.

Thomas brought Marbury back to his hometown in a trade with the Suns on Jan. 5, 2004, and the two enjoyed a close relationship while Thomas was solely the team president. But things changed when he took on the job of coach as well before last season.

They clashed early last year after Thomas benched him in the second halves of two games, though they patched things up and Marbury played well the second half of the season.

But any problems on the court were minor compared to Marbury's strange summer.

He behaved erratically during a televised interview, then testified in a sexual harassment trial against Thomas and Madison Square Garden that he had a sexual encounter in his truck with a team intern. Marbury was smiling and singing on his way out of the courthouse.

Marbury also was forced to apologize after defending Michael Vick's participation in dogfighting.

The Knicks hoped their summer of woes would be forgotten once the season started, but instead they've blown up on their first road trip.

Marbury played poorly down the stretch in New York's 75-72 home loss to Miami on Sunday, and the Daily News reported Tuesday the Knicks were trying to reduce Marbury's role or get rid of him entirely.