NBA

Knicks center Chandler still fighting flu

MIAMI — Tonight’s auxiliary scoreboard could read: Flu 2, Tyson Chandler 0.

The Knicks center was a game-time decision for Game 1 Saturday against the Heat, and although Chandler played with the flu, he admitted to being dazed and weak. And not surprisingly, he performed as such in the Knicks’ 100-67 meltdown, prompting Baron Davis to say afterward, “He was fighting more than just them on the floor. He was fighting against a bad illness.”

Game 2 is tonight, but unfortunately for the Knicks, Chandler isn’t making much progress in his battle. He didn’t get on the floor for practice yesterday, and in fact, he didn’t even go to the arena and was receiving IV treatment.

“Honestly, I don’t think he’s any better [yesterday] than he was [Saturday],” Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson said, tabbing Chandler as a game-time call for tonight. “He might not play, guys.”

Considering Chandler played in Game 1 and considering how important he is, you’d imagine he’ll suit up for Game 2. But either way with the flu-ridden big man, the Knicks appear damned if they do and damned if they don’t. If Chandler’s still as sick tonight as he was in Game 1, there’s little reason to believe he’ll play well. That being said, if he sits out, his absence would be a killer.

“Definitely concerned about Tyson,” Davis said. “He’s a warrior, he’s our vocal leader and we need that from him. It was very inspiring for us to have him out there, but I just think that he was sick and he just gave us what he could.”

Perhaps it will help that Game 2 is a 7 p.m. start, giving Chandler more time to improve. But if he doesn’t, he’ll have to decide if playing is worth it. Consider after Game 1 — in which Chandler had zero points, three rebounds, seven turnovers and four fouls in 21 minutes — he admitted, “I thought maybe by just being out there would help my team morale. But I wasn’t able to do much.”

If Chandler either sits or plays limited minutes, Jared Jeffries could see more time as the backup. Or Amar’e Stoudemire could shift over to play center, and the Knicks could use Carmelo Anthony at power forward.

“He’s just barely hanging in there,” Woodson said, which isn’t exactly an uplifting description. “I don’t know what he’s going to feel like [today] so hopefully a miracle happens overnight and he’s ready to play.”

— Additional reporting by Mike Vaccaro.