NBA

Knicks’ Anthony may miss Bulls game with finger injury

CHICAGO — Carmelo Anthony has taken Tyson Chandler’s advice once already and he may take it again and miss Saturday night’s game with a cut left middle finger. Anthony could want to save himself for Sunday night when his former Nuggets invade the Garden.

As much as Anthony considers the Heat the biggest game of the season, he also doesn’t want to lose to George Karl’s Nuggets as he did last season at the Garden. The Knicks’ trip to Denver was cancelled last season because of the lockout and Anthony’s first foray to the Rocky Mountains since demanding a trade comes March 13.

The Knicks listed Anthony as questionable for Saturday night’s contest against the Bulls, coached by defensive wizard Tom Thibodeau, a former Knicks assistant and disciple of the late Bill Musselman and Jeff Van Gundy. The Bulls are in first place despite Derrick Rose’s prolonged absence.

Chandler told Anthony before Thursday’s 112-92 blowout win over Miami not to play because he didn’t want Anthony’s gash to reopen. Melo took five stitches after the Charlotte game. Chandler said he has told Anthony to sit down against the Bulls too.

The Knicks didn’t skip a beat without Anthony against the Heat as they played loose and with nothing to lose while draining 18 3-pointers. When coach Mike Woodson spoke to the media 90 minutes before tip-off, he thought Anthony likely would try to play but knew his star needed to test it on the court during warm-ups. During a 20-minute shooting session, Anthony made most of his buckets but at times caught passes with one hand.

Anthony told Woodson after the session he didn’t feel right.

“It’s a long season, a marathon,’’ said Woodson after the victory in Miami. “One game is not going to determine our season. I just told him we’ll wait on you and someone else just has to step up and play.’’

Anthony wasn’t around after the game to speak for himself. The Knicks had a rare stayover after a road game and when reporters were let into the locker room, Anthony was already out of the arena.

* The Knicks should thank the thrifty ownership of the Bulls, who didn’t renew the option of shooting guard Ronnie Brewer. The option was for $4.37 million. Brewer said the Bulls didn’t want to go over the luxury-tax threshold. The Knicks signed Brewer for the veteran’s minimum for his years of service ($1.3 million). It has been a steal as he has started in a three-guard alignment with Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton. Brewer didn’t score a point in Miami but his scrappy defense — including a block at the rim — on LeBron James was critical. His agent, Henry Thomas, said several teams had interest in signing Brewer for the veteran’s minimum but he chose New York for his role on the club and because he felt the Knicks were winners. Brewer’s role, however, could change when Iman Shumpert returns in January.