Call it a $100 million blow to the head.
The Knicks’ season got rocked again last night as Amar’e Stoudemire will have his second knee debridement surgery in four months, putting him out six weeks, ending his regular season and putting him out until the first round of the playoffs at the very earliest.
This surgery will be on the right knee — not the left — and should occur by tomorrow. It may be no coincidence it comes after a week in which Stoudemire twice surpassed the 30-minute cap set by the Knicks medical staff to protect his knees.
It was a stunning turn of events, potentially threatening their lofty playoff hopes, threatening their chances of holding off the Nets for the Atlantic Division title and coming when their other max star player, Carmelo Anthony, is also battling a mysterious knee injury.
Anthony missed his third straight game last night versus the Jazz with fluid in his right knee but without their two most expensive players, the Knicks destroyed Utah, 113-84, at the Garden.
“It’s a major loss to what we’re trying to do,’’ coach Mike Woodson said. “We’re going to have to wait on him and continue on. We can’t sit and sulk and feel sad. Guys got to step up and play.’’
Stoudemire missed the morning shootaround and requested an MRI exam yesterday afternoon.
“He had some swelling and some soreness and he asked for an MRI,’’ Woodson said.
Stoudemire had knee debridement surgery on his left knee on Nov. 1 after a Baker’s cyst ruptured. It is not believed he had another cyst in his right knee, but it may be no coincidence this occurred after Stoudemire slightly went over the 30-minute cap in both games of the Rust Belt road trip. Stoudemire’s contract is uninsured for a career-ending injury.
Stoudemire will finish the regular season having played just 29 games as the $100 million man’s starcrossed Knicks career rages on. His playoffs were damaged by injuries in his first two Knicks seasons — first by a bulging disk, then by punching a fire extinguisher’s glass case. Stoudemire had talked about regenerating new red blood cells by going on a vegan diet after his surgery.
He averaged 14.2 points on 57.7 percent shooting in 23.5 minutes. He established a low-post game for the first time in his career and was effective. The knee woes to Anthony and Stoudemire come at a rotten time as the Knicks embark on a five-game West Coast trip starting tomorrow in Golden State. Woodson said it’s too early to talk about Anthony also having a procedure to drain his knee, hoping treatment works.
“I feel for Amar’e as a young man,’’ Woodson said. “He put a lot of work in this summer to get back on the court this summer. then what he went through at the start of training camp. Now he’s got to go back in again. I feel for him. But we have to go on. The whole beauty of our team is depth but you don’t expect a key guy like that to continue to go down because he’s a big piece to the puzzle.’’
Stoudemire returned Jan. 1 and was placed on the 30-minute cap for the season.
Stoudemire’s minutes jumped noticeably once Anthony went down with a sore/stiff right knee in Cleveland on Monday. Stoudemire played 32 minutes in Cleveland and 30:55 in Detroit. After the 32-minute outing, Woodson acknowledged he had gone over, saying “Oops,” with a sheepish grin.
Stoudemire stayed under the cap versus Oklahoma City Friday, logging 28:55. But even that amount was more than the 24-25 minutes he was getting before Anthony went down.
The Knicks also are missing reserve defensive power forward Rasheed Wallace, who had foot surgery 10 days ago and seems a longshot to get back. By the eight-week timetable, Wallace could be back for the second round. However, Woodson said he’s not sure if they will waive Wallace to bring in a live body. However, the Knicks can’t sign a player who has been waived after March 1 because he would be ineligible for the playoff roster. Recently signed Kenyon Martin is now a Knicks godsend.
Stoudemire stuck his head into the locker room for a moment last night, wearing a leather jacket and jeans with a hat. But he left when he saw reporters.
Anthony didn’t participate in the shootaround as he stayed back in the trainer’s room — perhaps wanting to be extra fit for his Denver “homecoming’’ Wednesday.
“We talked a little bit today and said it was so-so,’’ Woodson said.
Before Woodson knew Stoudemire would need surgery, he was asked if Stoudemire’s sore knees affirms the 30-minute cap. “Absolutely,” Woodson said.
“It’s got to be that way. If we’re in a seven-game series, then it’s different. Then it’s time to play because all the marbles are on the table. But right now we got 23 games left. A lot of basketball to be played. We got to be careful with all our older guys that we’re not trying to burn them all in one game.’’
Too damn late.