"How does it feel?,'' Raymond Felton said of his left thumb in the Knicks locker room yesterday. "It's in pain. It hurts.''

Felton jammed his thumb in the second half Sunday. He left the locker room after the game in major discomfort and took an MRI exam last night that revealed just a bone bruise/contusion and not anything major such as a break or tear. But the Knicks listed him as day to day, leaving his status unclear for the Knicks' three-game road trip to Charlotte, Miami and Chicago.

Felton said the pain is coming at the base of his thumb.

For Knicks fans, it would be a shame if Felton missed the rematch with the Heat, considering the psychological ramifications of the showdown and that Jason Kidd (back spasms) will be less than 100 percent. It would also be too bad for Felton to miss his return to Charlotte, where he played five seasons. He's a North Carolina native and played for the Tar Heels.

Last night, Felton tweeted, "Thanks to everyone for checking on me and yes I will be ok. Just a bone bruise and I'm going to take it one day at a time.''

Kidd, who has shared the backcourt with Felton, missed his fourth straight game and he too was listed as "day to day.''