The Knicks’ dark preseason has gotten a shade brighter. It’s rare for the Knicks to receive heartening injury news, but they did Thursday when Tyson Chandler’s MRI exam showed only a bone bruise in his left knee. The club appears optimistic he will be ready for the season opener next Thursday in Brooklyn against the Nets.
Of course, it’s no guarantee and the Knicks listed Chandler vaguely as “day to day.” But a bone bruise is better than sprained ligaments, which Chandler feared as he left Nassau Coliseum in low spirits and on crutches Wednesday night. The season might have been all but over if the MRI exam had revealed Chandler had torn his ACL — the worst-case scenario.
The Knicks took Thursday off after finishing a six-game preseason schedule that didn’t go as planned. Five major rotation players — starters Amar’e Stoudemire and Ronnie Brewer and key reserves J.R. Smith, Marcus Camby and Rasheed Wallace — combined to play four exhibition games.
But coach Mike Woodson, who didn’t escape the preseason unscathed with a cut above his right eyelid, said he sees his club on the mend. Woodson has planned heavy-duty scrimmages the next six days, with referees, hoping all but Stoudemire eventually will participate. Stoudemire is out at least another two weeks with a ruptured cyst in his knee and has played just once.
“We’re a little banged up now, but we’re starting to get guys back,’’ Jason Kidd said.
Chandler figures to miss at least a few practices, but the team believes his knee will be close to 100 percent in a week. Wallace, the backup power forward, joined the team for his first practice Tuesday and is expected to compete in his first scrimmage today.
Camby, out with a strained calf since the camp’s fourth day, may return to practice today. The Knicks originally announced Camby would be out 7-to-10 days. It has been 20 days. J.R. Smith, the sixth man who has played just one preseason game because of a sore Achilles, also should return to practice today.
Who figured the ironman of the frontcourt would be 40-year-old Kurt Thomas, a throw-in in the Raymond Felton sign-and-trade? Thomas should start at power forward against the Nets and burly Kris Humphries.
“Before training camp started, I was looking at the roster and saying we’ve got a lot of bigs,’’ Thomas said. “All our bigs were mainly out. I just got to continue to work and knock the rust off. I feel great — not bad when you turn 40.’’
Carmelo Anthony said it’s a waiting game.
“The most important thing is to be patient,’’ Anthony said. “We’re very deep. It’s a matter of getting guys back and healthy. The injury we are concerned about now is Amar’e’s. We understand Tyson is not that bad. We have guys on the way back. … The only big problem for us is missing one of our main guys — that’s Amare.’’
The preseason’s good news is Carmelo Anthony, especially early, looked sharp, crisp and in wonderful shape. He tailed off the last two outings, combining to shoot 11 of 36 in Syracuse and at the Coliseum, when he looked to be forcing things.
“We’re missing a lot of guys out there,’’ Anthony said. “When guys come back, I won’t have to put the burden on myself.’’
Anthony said his first full preseason as a Knick was beneficial, even minus Stoudemire.
“Now I got my feet wet,’’ Anthony said. “I’m settled in the organization. I can just focus on basketball and not worry about everything else.’’
The other bright spot to a black preseason was smart point-guard play, especially from Spanish League veteran Pablo Prigioni, who capped a terrific preseason with 11 assists against the Nets. Starter Raymond Felton shot very well (38.1 percent on 3-pointers). Kidd, who played a lot of shooting guard, was competent, even if he didn’t look to score. “Our trio of point guards we have, it makes it easier for everyone else,’’ Anthony said. “Woodson has a lot of confidence with all three.’’
On the flip side, Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin is struggling. He posted a two-point, six-turnover night Wednesday and is shooting 22 percent with one game left.
* The Knicks made no cuts yesterday but forward Chris Copeland, who averaged 15.5 points in the preseason, has all but sealed the 15th spot. If Wallace doesn’t break down during upcoming scrimmages and shooting guard James White’s foot injury isn’t serious, which it appears, Mychel Thompson likely will fall short despite a big night at the Coliseum (13 points in 19:54, 3 of 7 on 3-pointers).