Charlotte (10-37) at New York (19-31) 6:00 pm EST

— -- NEW YORK (Ticker) -- With star rookie Emeka Okafor sidelined with an ankle injury, the Charlotte Bobcats will have their work cut out for them against Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks. Okafor, who leads the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaged 21.5 points and 16.5 rebounds in two previous games against the Knicks. The Bobcats posted a 1-4 record with Okafor sidelined by an ankle sprain. The Connecticut product returned in a 97-87 loss against the Miami Heat on Friday. He recorded 13 points and seven rebounds before aggravating the same injury in the fourth quarter as Charlotte lost its fifth straight. Against Miami, Brevin Knight scored 17 points and Jason Kapono added 14 for the Bobcats, who were also without Kareem Rush and Primoz Brezec in the loss. Despite the fifth straight 30-plus point performance by Marbury, the Knicks lost 111-94 against the Boston Celtics on Friday. Marbury recorded 31 points and 10 assists and Kurt Thomas added 16 and 14 rebounds for New York, which lost for the fourth time in five games. Over the last five games, Marbury has averaged 33 points and eight assists while hitting 55 percent (59-of-108) of his shots. Rookie Trevor Ariza has been a solid contributor since moving into the starting lineup in place of Jamal Crawford. In 11 games, the 19-year-old guard has scored 10.5 points per game and shot 46 percent from the floor. New York and Charlotte met twice this season with each team winning on its home floor. The Knicks won the most recent meeting, posting a 91-82 triumph over the Bobcats at Madison Square Garden on December 26. Tim Thomas scored 20 points and Nazr Mohammed and Allan Houston added 16 apiece. Houston is sidelined with soreness in his left knee.