NBA

Knicks told to reduce minutes for Stoudemire

The jump was too high for Amar’e Stoudemire.

In his first three games since returning from left knee surgery, Stoudemire played between 17 and 21 minutes each time, the Knicks proceeding slowly with their $100 million oft-injured power forward.

But on Monday against Boston, Stoudemire’s minutes zoomed to 28, and yesterday coach Mike Woodson revealed playing Stoudemire that much was a mistake.

Woodson said he has been told by team doctors to keep Stoudemire’s minutes down.

“I just got word that I needed to back off because I shouldn’t have done that,” Woodson said. “His minutes will still be on a restriction.

“Probably around the 20-mark range. Somewhere in that area there. No more than 22-23 minutes.”

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Woodson and Stoudemire said this was not a setback, but it is a disappointing development. Stoudemire is not ready to handle major minutes — he also said he’s not sure if he will be able to play on back-to-back nights yet — and the Knicks will have to be careful not to extend him too far.

“I’m not going to sit here and jeopardize STAT’s situation,” Woodson said. “I feel good about what we have with [Marcus] Camby and Kurt [Thomas], and if doctors are saying that hey, we’ve got to limit him, that’s what we’re gonna have to do.”

Stoudemire said he felt “a little bit sore after the game.” He said he felt fine yesterday, however, and did not request to have his minutes curbed.

“It didn’t come from me,” he said. “I don’t feel as if it’s a setback at all. I feel great. I just think we’re taking precautionary routes. We’re just making sure everything remains continuing to improve.”

Stoudemire said he believes the playing-time limit is based on the Knicks having back-to-back games tonight and tomorrow and suggested his minutes could go higher once he shows he can play on consecutive nights. He said whether he plays tomorrow against the Bulls will be based on how he comes through tonight against the Pacers.

Stoudemire has had one day off between each of his four games, and he will have two days off before tonight’s. Tomorrow with no rest, however, will be a new circumstance.