(AP)

A day after needing only 13 minutes to foul out of an exhibition against Charlotte, Lavoy Allen contended Friday that the left knee that’s nagged him throughout preseason is OK. His coach said otherwise.

“I think he’s still, well, I know he’s still not at 100 percent,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said of Allen, following practice at PCOM.

Allen, who started Thursday in the Sixers’ 110-84 loss to the Bobcats, grabbed three rebounds and went scoreless before exiting with six personals.

The third-year forward said it takes him more than an hour to get his knee warmed up before practices and games. Allen said the injury stems from the opening days of training camp, when he tweaked it and woke up the next morning with it swollen. He said it dates to Sept. 9 and that, after rushing back, it took on more fluid. He said he’s had it drained once.

“Just trying to get my conditioning back. I sat out for a while,” Allen said, regarding expectations for the rest of the preseason.

Allen will make a little more than $3 million this season, the final year in a two-year deal with the Sixers. After averaging 5.8 points and 5.0 rebounds last season, Allen is looking for answers. And consistency. And health. And maybe not in that order.

“Still have a little bit of time,” Allen said. “It’s a long season. I’ve got a lot of time.”

Ex-Sixers coach Doug Collins said Allen, a low-key kind of guy, struggled with getting amped up to play. He commonly referred to “a motor” in Allen that, once started, led to improved play.

Allen said an internal motor isn’t the issue.

“I don’t really understand what that means,” he said. “I took human anatomy before. I don’t remember any motors being in there. I’m not sure. Maybe it’s changed. Maybe we evolved.”

But if it’s not the motor, then it must be the knee.

“Not really,” he said, “once I get it warmed up and everything.”