WASHINGTON — Kurt Thomas is 40 going on 30. Amar’e Stoudemire is almost 30, going on 40.
In the Knicks’ 108-101 victory over the Wizards in Thursday night’s preseason opener, Stoudemire was held out because of a bruised left knee after bumping knees with Chris Copeland in Wednesday’s practice.
Thomas, in his second stint with the Knicks after barely playing in Portland last season, was back where he left off — the starting power forward facing the young front line of the Wizards.
The first chance to see Stoudemire’s new low-post game has been delayed. It’s unclear if he will play Saturday in Hartford against the Celtics.
In an MSG interview, Stoudemire said he would play, but he avoided reporters before and after the game. Stoudemire also said he would play the next game when he went down in March and missed five weeks.
Stoudemire’s injury continued the club’s injury trend and prevented his first chance of getting on the court with Carmelo Anthony and creating new karma to erase the bad karma of their two seasons prior.
Stoudemire sat out most of Wednesday’s practice, but the Knicks said it was a “recovery day.’’ But the knee swelled up overnight, leaving the Knicks extra cautious. There was no talk of Stoudemire taking an MRI exam yet.
Stoudemire sat in the visitor’s locker room briefly before the game, his knee wrapped in red bandages. He did not make himself available for interviews as he darted into the trainer’s room when reporters were let in.
“His knee is bruised,’’ Woodson said at the Verizon Center following the morning shootaround. “If this is a regular-season game, he would play. We’ll evaluate him [today] at practice and see where he is and see if he’s ready to go Saturday.’’
Stoudemire, who turns 30 next month, also missed two practices last Friday and Saturday because of an ankle sprain but bounced back quickly.
Backup center Marcus Camby already has broken down — out another week or so with a calf strain. Backup power forward Rasheed Wallace hasn’t been deemed fit enough to scrimmage, leaving the Knicks thin in the frontcourt.
Thomas, who failed to impress in his lone season with the Blazers, was a throw-in from the Raymond Felton sign-and-trade in July.
But he has come into camp in wonderful shape, looking as fit as when he last donned a Knicks jersey, in the 2004-005 season.
“He’s 40,’’ Woodson said. “Kurt only sat out one day. He’s gone through all that running and everything we’ve asked him to do. It’s pretty impressive. I wish I could have done that at 40.’’
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Woodson on J.R. Smith’s latest comments about being “disappointed’’ about his bench role: “The bottom line is J.R. and I are on the same page. I’d rather leave it at that.’’
When asked later about managing egos because of their depth, Woodson said, “Two things this team has to think about — team and winning. You just got to think about team and winning games. That’s the bottom line — no matter who plays.’’