Anonymous
INDIANAPOLIS — Amar’e Stoudemire initially said back-to-back games “were out of the question,” but he sounded confident that he will play against the Bulls Friday night at the Garden. He said it will depend on how his surgically repaired left knee feels after Thursday night’s game, in which he had nine points and eight rebounds in 21:31 in an 81-76 loss to Indiana. “I feel great,” he said. “I should be a go.” It appeared unlikely that he would play Friday night, especially after the medical staff told Mike Woodson he had to cut back Stoudemire’s time after he played 28 minutes Monday against the Celtics. Stoudemire continues to say the minutes restriction has nothing to do with any setbacks and that he doesn’t have soreness in his knee. “I think you guys may have a misconception,” he said. “It was more so that we’re having three games in four nights and making sure we take precautionary measures on minutes played. Stating I wouldn’t play 30 minutes every game on a back-to-back. “I think it’s a small misconception on how I truly feel. I feel great. There are no setbacks at all. But we just don’t want to overdo it is what I think the main reason is.” Waiting on Rasheed Woodson disputed reports that the Knicks are concerned about Rasheed Wallace and have discussed signing Kenyon Martin. “That’s news to me,” Woodson said. “That’s you guys’ speculation.” Wallace missed his 13th straight game with an acute stress reaction in his left foot, and he won’t play Friday night. But when asked if he believes Wallace will be back, Woodson said, “Absolutely.” Former Net Martin, 35, is a defensive-minded free-agent forward who played with the Clippers last season. He has averaged 13.0 points and 7.1 rebounds in his 12-year career. If Marcus Camby is out significant time after aggravating his left foot injury Thursday night, the Knicks could look to sign someone. Shumpert update Iman Shumpert said his surgically repaired left knee feels great, better than expected after he practiced Tuesday and Wednesday. But he said he needs to go through more practices and game-like scrimmages before he returns, so he might not play until after the Knicks return from next week’s trip to London. “I haven’t played in eight months,” Shumpert said. “I’m not coming back just for some cheers. I want to be ready.” The Knicks have three games during the week of Jan. 21 that Shumpert could target if he’s able to practice. He said there has been talk that he will practice with the Knicks’ D-League team, the Erie BayHawks, as Stoudemire did when he was cleared for practice.##imported-begin##adriana arias##imported-end##