Knicks set franchise mark for futility

SAN ANTONIO - Knicks team president Donnie Walsh flew all the way to San Antonio to watch Eddy Curry's return last night. And all Walsh saw was Curry's return to the pregame layup line.

Curry's ballyhooed comeback from left knee surgery in January was absurdly scrapped when he developed a tight right calf -- the same calf that put him out all training camp after a blood-draining procedure.

Curry sat on the bench in uniform but did not play in last night's 97-87 loss to the Spurs at AT&T Center.

Fitting.

It was another night filled with setbacks as the Knicks fell apart late and fell to 22-42, officially securing their franchise-record ninth straight losing season.

Now Walsh is a full-fledged part of the darkest era in Knicks history. This sad period has topped the eight straight losing seasons from 1959 to 1967.

From Scott Layden to Isiah Thomas to Walsh, the Knicks have mastered the art of losing. Soon they will attempt to lure free agents, carrying a losing culture imbedded into the Garden hardwood.

Curry is the era's poster boy -- and it's a large poster -- of this wasted era. Curry and David Lee are the longest-tenured Knicks, now part of five straight losing seasons.

Curry said he hopes to get his next shot tomorrow in Memphis but made no guarantees. The Knicks announced Curry was not playing because of a sore left knee before changing it to the calf after the game. Banner day for the Knicks.

"I'll go to practice [today] and get it loose and see how it is," Curry said. "I'm pretty confident we'll be able to get it loose because I want to play on this trip. After getting treatment it still wasn't quite loose. It's the same thing I had in training camp. We didn't want to push it past what it is now."

Curry has one year left on his contract but indications are the two sides likely will work out a buyout agreement because the center and coach Mike D'Antoni are not fans of each other.

Only March and April can change that. There will be plenty of empty roster spots to fill next season, and Walsh said he prefers that Curry fulfill the last year of his contract.

"I want to see him come back and play," Walsh said yesterday before Curry's injury was revealed. "It gives us a chance to put him in the mix. Not only see how he does, but see how we do with a post guy like that."

Walsh also made the trip -- and bypassed scouting college tournaments -- because he's evaluating the new guy -- Tracy McGrady, Bill Walker, Sergio Rodriguez and even J.R. Giddens, who could return Monday in Philadelphia.

"I'm here to evaluate the players," Walsh said. "I'm here because we made a trade. I don't know the players that came that well. I want to get to know them. I want to watch them play. I want to see if these guys are candidates."

Despite last night's setback, D'Antoni has told Curry he's in for the long haul. D'Antoni pulled the plug on Curry's last comeback after three games in December.

"I haven't had Eddy for any length of time," D'Antoni said. "This will be a good stretch. We can play him as much as we want to because it's not in the heat of trying to get in the playoffs."

Curry will not say he will be a Knick next season.

"I think there's a chance," Curry said. "Not really looking that far."

D'Antoni acknowledged the rift.

"Coaches are mostly great if you're playing really well," D'Antoni said. "It's amazing how that relationship goes good. Not playing as good, it gets a little icier. I really hope it works out."

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Danilo Gallinari had a chance to tie with 3:45 left but missed a free throw, and the Spurs embarked on a 14-3 run, led by Manu Ginobili's late surge.

Ginobili finished with 28 points. David Lee scored 21 and Wilson Chandler 17.

Tracy McGrady returned to the lineup after missing Atlanta win and struggled -- scoring six points, four assists and seven rebounds in 26 minutes and sat out the fourth quarter.

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D'Antoni was asked if he would consider making coaching staff changes next season to improve the defense.

D'Antoni's assistants are his brother, Dan, Herb Williams, Phil Weber and Kenny Atkinson.

"No thoughts whatsoever," D'Antoni said. "I'm really satisfied. I'm not throwing anyone under the bus. That's not going to happen."

In Phoenix, Suns president Steve Kerr suggested to D'Antoni he hire a defensive assistant, and it created a rift.

marc.berman@nypost.com