CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carmelo Anthony, his middle finger needing six stitches and wrapped in a thick bandage after the Knicks’ thrilling 100-98 win over the Bobcats Wednesday night, wouldn’t commit to facing the Heat Thursday night.
But he certainly hopes his finger, which was numb when he spoke to reporters after the game, will allow him to face LeBron James. Anthony sliced his middle finger on a metal container diving for a loose ball with 2:10 left in the game after game-winning, buzzer-beating hero J.R. Smith had blocked a shot.
“I want to play in Miami, but at the end of the day I have to do what’s right for my finger,’’ Anthony said. “We’ll talk to the doctors. If I can’t play, I’ll see them two more times.’’
Coach Mike Woodson said afterward he thought Anthony would probably give it a go. And Anthony is optimistic and even took a shot at Spurs coach Gregg Popovich for sending his star players home and not to Miami last week.
“[The finger’s] not off,’’ Anthony said. “I’m going to see how it feels. It’s numb right now. But I’m not going on Southwest. I’m going to Miami.’’
Anthony, who did not see Smith’s game-winning bucket, said a lot will depend on how he is able to grip the ball today.
“It was hurt, but J.R. made it feel better,’’ Anthony said.
* Amar’e Stoudemire is on track to make his return during the 6-to-8 week timetable the Knicks set after his Nov. 1 left knee-debridement surgery, and the countdown for him to be cleared for practice has begun.
Coach Mike Woodson said once the doctors clear him to “cut,” he will start practicing. Marcus Camby also said he felt Stoudemire was “around the corner’’.
”There can’t be any setbacks, however,’’ Stoudemire told The Post last night.
The Post reported Stoudemire’s chances of returning by mid-December — the early portion of his 6-to-8 week prognosis — was unlikely but he was hoping for around Christmas.
“Amare is back on the court shooting and running,’’ Woodson said yesterday. “Until I hear from the docs, I won’t know [when he’ll practice]. If I do hear something we’ll get him going and practicing. The next step is for him to cut and push [off] and do things of that nature. I don’t think he’s at that point.’’
* Camby, who has been mostly out of the rotation, confirmed he has plantar fasciitis after an MRI exam. He didn’t play and won’t tonight.
“It’s tough you know,’’ Camby said. “I’ve been a starter 15, 16 straight years. It’s tough when you want to be out there.’’