New York ? The pride and passion Allan Houston says the Knicks must rekindle shouldn’t be a problem tonight. Then again, it shouldn’t be an issue at all when you are 0-4.

“We just need to win, no matter who comes in,” center-by-default Kurt Thomas said.

Maybe all the Knicks need is some good karma (along with more free-throw attempts, an aggressive defense in the fourth quarter and a bona fide center).

The Sacramento Kings, last season’s Western Conference bridesmaids, come to Madison Square Garden tonight for the second game of a back-to-back after having played with only eight players Tuesday night in 125-121 loss to Orlando. They’re not all that healthy, either.

Chris Webber played Tuesday night after missing three games with a lower abdominal strain. Point guard Mike Bibby has been out all season after right foot surgery. Center Scot Pollard of Kansas University fame has been struggling through a lower back strain.

The ideal scenario for the Knicks? Consider Sacramento drubbed the Portland Trail Blazers, 100-72, on Halloween without Webber, Bibby and the suspended Doug Christie. Six Kings have averaged in double figures through four games.

“I think this team has somewhat of a chip on their shoulder after what happened with L.A.,” Latrell Sprewell said, referring to Sacramento’s crushing seven-game loss to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals last spring. “They’re still looking to get homecourt advantage. Every game is important.”

Sprewell remains on the bench with an injured right hand until at least Nov. 16. “I don’t think they’d let me (play earlier) without a pretty hefty fine,” he said while also praising the Kings. “I played for Rick Adelman. He’s a really excellent coach. The things he does on offense are awesome. You’ll see a guy come up to the high post and you get three or four guys cutting around him. It’s really tough.”

Coach Don Chaney said the Knicks can run with any team but they have to rebound better and get more defensive stops. Committing seven of 14 turnovers in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks did Monday night in a 97-88 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, is “carelessness,’ he said.

Beating such a formidable team as the Kings would give the Knicks the psychological edge they’ve been missing. Thomas argued it’s still early and no time to panic though the Knicks have four losses.

When does it stop being early?

“Around 10,” Thomas chuckled. At least the Knicks can laugh every now and then.