MIAMI — Will there be Linsanity on Sunday at the Garden?
Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin said it was possible he could return for Sunday’s Game 4 as he confirmed he is aiming now to play against the Heat instead of waiting for a second round that probably won’t come.
Lin broke his silence and admitted he has playoff fever despite feeling left knee soreness after Saturday’s pivotal workout in one-on-one drills with Knicks assistant coach Kenny Atkinson.
“I’m going to evaluate at the end of the week and see how I feel,’’ Lin said. “Hopefully I’ll feel good. Every time I come into the gym, the playoff atmosphere is unbelievable.
“It’s something I want to feel, and help my teammates.’’
Yesterday at AmericanAirlines Arena, Lin participated in practice for the first time since he underwent knee surgery April 2. The Knicks’ need for a dose of Linsanity increased significantly with the series-ending knee injury to guard Iman Shumpert and starting point guard Baron Davis bothered by a bad back in Game 1.
Lin said he’s extra motivated because last time he faced the Heat he had a miserable outing after facing a ferocious Miami defense designed to stop him.
“My last game against Miami, I was 1 for 11 and a bunch of turnovers, that’s obviously in my mind too,’’ Lin said. “I don’t want that to be my last game.’’
Lin said he definitely won’t play tonight in Game 2 or Game 3 Thursday when the series shifts to the Garden. On Sunday, The Post reported he had refocused his goal and was shooting for the first round.
“I don’t really want to make a promise because I just don’t know,’’ Lin said. “If I felt good today, then that would be more of a possibility. But I don’t feel that great today.’’
Lin said the lone concern of a first-round comeback is “making myself vulnerable to something more serious.
“I think when I can take a hit and when I can cut at full speed and not think about it, I’ll be ready,’’ said Lin, who will take part in his first contact drills tomorrow.
If Lin doesn’t play Sunday, he may have to wait for next season as injuries have put the Knicks in danger of getting swept. Lin is a restricted free agent and the Knicks likely will have to use all of their $5 million mid-level exception to retain him, leaving them with little flexibility to improve the team.
If Lin gets the mid-level, the Knicks may be unable to re-sign free agents Steve Novak and J.R. Smith.
Lin was mobbed by the media after yesterday’s practice, bringing him Linsanity memories of February. “(Saturday) I felt pretty good, I could do a lot more than I thought I could,’’ Lin said. “It was just two days ago I just started running. It happened really fast. But today I took a step back. We’ll see. When I come back I want to create energy and be aggressive.’’
If he does return Sunday, that means he would beat the six-week timetable by one week, which had been his goal when it was determined he would have surgery. Lin has not played since March 24 vs. Detroit.
“He was out shooting,’’ Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson said. “He went through some of our scripted offense, which was nice to see. Again, he’s day to day. I don’t know when he’s coming back.’
Carmelo Anthony, who struggled with the Linsanity attention, said Lin “shouldn’t rush back.’’