The Indiana Pacers insist Donnie Walsh has not agreed to oversee basketball operations for the New York Knicks after the season.

“Donnie said this morning there’s nothing clear about his future,” Pacers spokesman David Benner said Tuesday. “When there is he’ll make a statement. He hasn’t agreed to anything with anybody.”

Walsh, the Pacers’ chief executive and president since 1988, said Monday he would step aside after this season, but he would not comment on his future. The Pacers have turned over operation of the troubled franchise to Hall of Famer Larry Bird.

The Associated Press left a message with Walsh’s office, but his secretary said he would not respond to the inquiries.

On Monday night, ESPN.com reported that Walsh will go to the Knicks. The Web site, citing an unidentified source, said he was expected to sign a three-year, $15 million contract with the Knicks at the end of this season.

The New York Rangers have dominated the Philadelphia Flyers this season, losing only one of six games. The teams meet again on Friday as the push toward the playoffs continues.

The Rangers are 15-4-3 in their last 22 games and have won two straight, including Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout win at New Jersey that improved New York’s record against the Devils this season to 6-0-0.

Henrik Lundqvist has made eight consecutive starts for the Rangers, who might look to Steve Valiquette for Friday’s game. Valiquette is 3-0-0 against the Flyers with a 0.36 goals-against average.

Center Scott Gomez, defenseman Daniel Girardi and left wing Brendan Shanahan have a combined four goals and 13 assists against Philadelphia. New York is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Allen Iverson planted a kiss on the 76ers logo at midcourt and blew imaginary ones to the fans.

With a packed Philadelphia crowd standing and roaring in appreciation for their former MVP, Iverson had to wonder if his career would be different had he simply kissed and made up with the Sixers last season.

“I had a big hand in me getting traded,” a reflective Iverson said Wednesday night. “I always wanted to finish my career here in Philadelphia. The opportunity was there for me to do it. In a lot of ways, I made sure that didn’t happen.”

All of Iverson’s arguments with former coach Larry Brown, the complaints about practice—practice!—and his falling out with coach Maurice Cheeks that led to his trade to Denver were forgotten the moment he walked into the Wachovia Center for the first time as a visitor.

Iverson hugged security guards, embraced Cheeks, kissed the team logo and joked about not knowing where to go inside the Wachovia Center. He took a different route to the arena than he did in his years with the Sixers, dressed in a new locker room and sat on the visitor’s bench.

Francisco Liriano said he’s making progress, even if his spring numbers have yet to catch up to how he feels.

Liriano allowed three runs and five hits over three-plus innings in the Minnesota Twins’ 5-3 loss to the Florida Marlins on Monday. He walked two, struck out one and threw 33 of his 59 pitches for strikes.

“I think I’ll be good enough to start the season,” said Liriano, 15 months removed from “Tommy John” surgery on his left elbow.

Liriano continued to throw more fastballs. He avoided reliance on his slider, which puts more stress on the elbow and may have resulted in his injury.

“I don’t want to use my slider as much this year,” he said. “It could help me stay healthy. We’ll see.”

Liriano went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 2006 before the arm troubles began.

“The ball was coming out of his hand fine,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He was a lot better than he was the last time.”

Liriano, a native of the Dominican Republic, arrived at camp a week late because of visa problems. He has an 8.10 ERA in three starts this spring and could get three more before the start of the regular season.