Chris Carlson / AP

Stephon Marbury of the Knicks stretches before the club's game against the Clippers in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Marbury rejoined the team earlier in the day after being fine $182,000.

updated 11:08 p.m. ET Nov. 14, 2007

NEW YORK - Stephon Marbury grinned as he made his way down the hall to the New York Knicks’ locker room, back in the fold but out some $182,000 because of a fine.

After skipping the game in Phoenix the previous night, Marbury flew from New York to Los Angeles to join the Knicks for their Wednesday night game against the Clippers.

“We had a conversation, and any conversations that we have within our team, we’ll try to keep those as private and in-house matters,” New York coach Isiah Thomas said.

Marbury didn’t start in the Knicks’ 84-81 loss to Los Angeles, but he entered the game late in the first quarter and finished with 13 points. He missed a couple of shots in the closing minutes, but his layup pulled New York within 82-81 with 7 seconds left.

Asked before the game if he’s satisfied everything is smoothed over, Thomas didn’t answer directly but said: “I’m satisfied that I believe he’s capable of leading this team and he’s capable of playing great defense. When I see those two things, I think our team can take another step in this league.

“Unfortunately, lessons in life have to be learned on a public stage. He’s a kid that made it out of Coney Island, and I think what I’m asking him to do, he’s capable of doing. As I said to him before, if he can’t do it, we’ll have to find someone who can.”

Marbury, surrounded by reporters in front of his locker, said, “This is not my battle to fight. I’m here to play basketball, and I’m just going to concentrate on that.

“I’m going to leave it internal, like Isiah said, and I will respect if everyone can just respect that. That’s it. That’s all I really have to say about this.”

Asked if he had apologized to his teammates, Marbury said, “I plan to just tell them that this is something that has to do with Isiah and myself.”

The Knicks’ Zach Randolph, who had been given time off after his grandmother died, also rejoined the team, although he plans to return to Indiana for the funeral later this week.

“I just wanted to be here for my team,” Randolph said.

He said of the team turmoil, “Stephon and coach got this situation going on, but they’re going to work it out.”

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