NBA

Stoudemire aims to return for Knicks on Friday

Amar’e Stoudemire is sporting new cornrows, perhaps signifying a new beginning for the Knicks forward commencing Friday in Cleveland.

Interim coach Mike Woodson confirmed the Post’s report on Tuesday that Stoudemire is eyeing his return for Friday in Cleveland. That would give him four games to shake the rust off before the playoffs — if the Knicks qualify.

It is the first time Woodson has targeted a specific game regarding Stoudemire’s return after two weeks of vagueness. Stoudemire missed his 12th straight game in Tuesday night’s 118-110 victory over the Celtics at the Garden because of a bulging disk and will not play Wednesday night in Newark against the Nets.

Woodson said if Stoudemire has no setbacks in tomorrow’s scrimmage, the Cavaliers’ game looks like the one. Woodson finally had a smile on his face when discussing Stoudemire, whose presence was sorely missed in the Knicks’ 93-85 loss to the Heat Sunday.

With the Knicks (32-29) in seventh place, a game ahead of the 76ers, the Heat have become their likely first-round opponent. But currently the Knicks only have Carmelo Anthony as a surefire scoring option in the starting lineup. Without Stoudemire, the Knicks don’t match up well up front with Miami at power forward, with the Heat boasting Chris Bosh.

“Speculation is probably Friday,’’ Woodson said. “All we can do is wait and see. It’s a possibility. It’s a possibility. Thursday will have another practice to see where he is. If everything goes well in that practice, it’s a possibility. So we can gauge everything Thursday.’’

Stoudemire finally broke his vow of silence, very briefly, confirming Friday is on the radar.

When told Woodson said Friday is “a possibility,’’ Stoudemire said, “Is that right? Sounds pretty good. We’ll see.’’

“I definitely have to get some games under my belt before the playoffs,’’ Stoudemire added. “There’s a little hint. I’m getting close.’’

The symbolism of Stoudemire’s new look could not be dismissed. He was more comfortable talking on that issue than his back. Stoudemire shaved his beard and put his hair in cornrows for a morning workout yesterday, though he disappeared before reporters were let in the gym.

Stoudemire said he hasn’t had cornrows since he was 17 in high school.

“It’s kind of a new look. You know I’m always into something,’’ Stoudemire said. “The beard would be a little much with the cornrows. My swag wouldn’t be right. I kind of decided to go with a cleaner look with the fresher cornrows. It’s another way of letting my hair grow faster in a cornrow, braided setting. I’m just growing my hair out.’’

How Stoudemire looks with Anthony is the bigger issue as they have yet to jell since Melo came aboard 14 months ago. Anthony, playing at power forward, has had his best two weeks of his Knicks career without Stoudemire. But Woodson vowed he will make the pair work and Stoudemire will resume his starting power forward slot.

“As a head coach I’ve got to see if this thing is going to work,’’ Woodson said. “I know you look at the numbers — Melo and Amar’e didn’t work earlier in the year, didn’t work with Jeremy Lin. I look at things differently. Amar’e is a starting power forward, a starting 4, 5 in this league. Melo can play 3 or 4. Tyson [Chandler] is definitely is a starting center in this league. I got to make it work. He’s going to start.’’

Will four games be enough for Stoudemire to get sharp after missing what would be a full month by Friday?

“I don’t know, to be honest with you,’’ Woodson said. “Conditioning-wise, I don’t know where he is. It will get him four games under his belt. He’ll get four games under his belt and then play playoff basketball. That’s not new to him. He’s been in the playoffs before.’’

Stoudemire, a co-captain, had not spoken to the media in 3½ weeks since the night he developed back trouble. He had a back injury in the first round last year and could have been related to his disk.

As much as Woodson wanted him back last week, Stoudemire and team doctors are playing it cautious because he still has three years left on his contract and has become virtually untradeable because of his $100 million deal that is uninsured for injury.

“I got to get through Thursday just to make sure he gets through it and he tells me Friday he felt pretty good after Thursday’s workout,’’ Woodson said. “He hasn’t had setbacks so far.’’