NBA

Amar’e hopes to return to Knicks for Game 4 vs. Heat

Amar’e Stoudemire has always been a cocky player across his career and yesterday he could not have been more bold in saying he wanted to try to play with a bandaged left hand in Game 4 Sunday.

Though the Knicks still list him as doubtful, Stoudemire, yesterday wearing a cast after surgery, also tried to minimize the incident, saying fans have “the wrong perception’’ of what occurred.

After he injured his back March 24 against Detroit, Stoudemire also said he was fine and would play the next game. Stoudemire then missed 13 straight games.

“I think it’s a great chance, but I’m not totally sure yet,’’ Stoudemire said about playing Sunday.

The Knicks have very low expectations for Stoudemire returning for the series. Knicks coach Mike Woodson said it’s not up to Stoudemire.

“That’s got to come from the doctors,’’ Woodson said. “I know he’s bandaged up. The doctors will determine a lot of it.’’

Stoudemire would likely be severely limited in Game 4 if he tried to go. He has already been outplayed by Chris Bosh in the first two games with two healthy hands. When asked why he believes he can play, Stoudemire said, “I’ve persevered through a lot of injuries and worked hard to recover from injuries.’’

Last April, Stoudemire played with a pulled back muscle in Games 3 and 4 against the Celtics, but could hardly move on the court and was a detriment. The Knicks have to make sure Stoudemire is playing for the right reasons and not so he can claim he just missed one playoff game.

Stoudemire looked to downplay the incident and didn’t seem repentant either.

“Fans actually think I had a closed fist and punched through a glass door,’’ Stoudemire said. “They have wrong perception of what actually happened. I walked by and swung my arm backwards. It hit the fire extinguisher door and I slashed my hand a little bit by accident. I understand their frustrations right now. I’m frustrated with myself as well.’’

Asked what triggered the incident, Stoudemire said, “We’re down 0-2 and I knew how important it was to get a win in Miami. We played somewhat well enough to win Game 2. I was more frustrated we were down 0-2. It wasn’t as if I was trying to take out the fire extinguisher door. I wanted to make noise and let out some frustration.’’

Stoudemire said many players let out their frustrations in similar ways.

“It happens all the time,’’ Stoudemire said. “Some players kick over ice coolers. Some players tip over a table. Some players even hit a chair. My thing was to hit a wall and I sliced my hand.’’

Privately, Stoudemire feels surprised he’s been crucified considering how he worked 10 hours a day on rehab to make it back for the playoffs from a bulging disk. He wore a “Marked Man’’ T-shirt as he met reporters.

Stoudemire emphasized he thought he was just slamming a metal wall and didn’t see the fire extinguisher.

“I just walked by the door and it’s made of 85 percent metal and two percent glass, a strip of glass,’’ Stoudemire said. “I didn’t try to hit the glass at all. I just walked by and I didn’t see the strip of glass.’’

Stoudemire’s effectiveness is a major concern for the organization. Last season, then-coach Mike D’Antoni said it was Stoudemire’s call to play Games 3 and 4 because he earned the right to decide on his own despite concerns from the medical staff. His presence backfired and the Knicks were blown out in the two home games.

“Never in a million years did I think I’d cut my hand like that,’’ Stoudemire said. “Bad timing. It’s disappointing to my teammates. I didn’t want to let them down. I know how important the game is for us.’’

marc.berman@nypost.com