Knicks to start season without Jeffries

Jeffries was hurt during last Friday’s preseason game against the New Jersey Nets and will likely be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks. The injury, a non- displaced fracture, is to his non-shooting hand and won’t require surgery.

The Knicks signed Jeffries, a restricted free agent, to a five-year contract this summer. Jeffries spent the first four seasons of his NBA career with the Washington Wizards, who made him the 11th overall pick of the 2002 draft.

The 6-foot-11 Jeffries averaged 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 77 games with the Wizards last season. The Indiana product has career averages of 6.1 points and 4.9 rebounds.