NBA

Knicks’ Amar’e limited to 10-15 minutes in Game 3, beyond

Knicks coach Mike Woodson said yesterday Amar’e Stoudemire is slated to play in the 10-to-15 minute range tomorrow in his expected grand return and indicated his playing time may not rise much more than that no matter how long the Knicks last.

The six-time All-Star power forward went through his final scrimmage yesterday — a 4-on-4. Unless he is in pain today, the comeback is on track for tomorrow — for better or worse — when the Knicks and Pacers resume their Eastern Conference semifinal at Bankers Life Field House in Indianapolis tied at 1-1.

When Stoudemire returned for his first comeback Jan. 1, after his first knee debridement surgery, it took him a good six games to scrape the rust off. There’s no time for that now as he returns from his second knee-debridement surgery, having not played since March 8.

“I expect to contribute the best I can,’’ Stoudemire said. “I don’t have time to find my rhythm. I have to be ready from the start. That’s what’s it’s going to be.’’

Stoudemire was on a 30-minute cap for the regular season before he got reinjured. Now he’s coming off two knee surgeries on two legs in five months.

The Knicks have Stoudemire under contract for two more seasons and the club has excelled without him. During the regular season, they were 16-13 with Stoudemire in the lineup and 37-16 without him.

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“We have talked about [his role],’’ Woodson said. “We talked about it way back when he had the surgery. What we expected of him based on him coming back [for the playoffs]. I thought we pushed him too much early on. We got to be really cautious this time. Not that we didn’t think that the first time he came back. This time, we really have to be cautious. He understands. He has no choice.’’

Carmelo Anthony, who moved to power forward this season because of Stoudemire’s twin surgeries, said he’s not expecting the all-star version of Stoudemire.

“To be honest with you, I don’t think we or he is expecting him to come out and play 20, 30 minutes and scoring 15, 20, 30 points,’’ Anthony said. “I think [he will be] trying to gradually get himself back going. He understands that. We understand that. If he can help us, which we know he can, he can do that.’’

They certainly can use another explosive big man against the burly Pacers, who trot out big subs in Tyler Hansbrough and have starters in the physical David West and 7-foot-2 defensive stalwart Roy Hibbert.

“He’s been so focused and working on things and really paying attention to the schemes,’’ said center Tyson Chandler, who has been invisible offensively in the playoffs. “But we can really use him right now. We’re playing against a big team, big lineups. It’s a great opportunity for him to be out there. He’ll give us a scoring presence on the block.’’

Pacers coach Frank Vogel said in Indiana Thursday: “Another guy who can flat-out play and flat-out score the ball. He’s somebody you have to account for so he can only strengthen them. There’s always a risk that there could be some rust, but that’s very rare.’’

In Stoudemire’s final three games, Woodson broke the medical staff’s edict and exceeded the 30-minute cap, playing him 32 minutes, 31 minutes and 29 minutes in a stretch of three games and four nights.

“I’m not playing 40 minutes a night,’’ Stoudemire said. “As far as my conditioning now I’m in shape to contribute. I still have to definitely work toward becoming that great player again.’’

During Stoudemire’s first scrimmage Monday he looked disjointed, but was crisper Thursday, going against center Earl Barron. Stoudemire shook free for a couple of spinning dunks, but Barron also scored on him in the post.

“I felt good the other day but today I felt even better,” he said. “I feel similar to the way I came back the first time.

“I’ve been in the playoffs my entire career. I know what it takes in the postseason. It means everything to be able to contribute and contend for a title’’

Stoudemire said he can make a difference despite his smaller role.

“Anytime you’re on the court, you have a chance to make an impact on the game,’’ Stoudemire said. “However much time Coach Woodson puts me in for, I’m definitely going to contribute.’’

“We’ll see how it feels [today],” Stoudemire said. “I recovered from my first scrimmage fine, which is a great sign.’’

— With Fred Kerber in Indianapolis