MILWAUKEE — How much more can Baron Davis bend before he breaks?
Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson said he wants to limit the banged-up point guard to playing no more than 25-26 minutes per game, but Davis did not even give his coach the option to use him that much during Wednesday’s 111-107 win over the Bucks and may struggle to play those kinds of minutes going forward.
Davis and the Knicks look to further solidfy their playoff position Friday night against the Wizards at the Garden.
Despite telling Woodson Wednesday morning he felt fine after suffering a neck stinger in Tuesday’s loss at Chicago, Davis was limited to 19 minutes against Milwaukee, his lowest total in nine starts since taking over following Jeremy Lin’s knee injury.
Davis was removed from the game in third quarter, unable to continue playing through ongoing hamstring, knee and back issues.
“I’ve had better days,” Davis told The Post after Wednesday’s game. “I couldn’t move. I just couldn’t move in the third quarter. I was trying to play and do some things out there, but I just couldn’t move and it was really bothering me. “Usually, I don’t like coming out of the game, but coach was smart about it.He asked me if I could move out there and I didn’t really have anything to say to him. I didn’t really have a response. He knew what to do at that point.”
Davis, who is celebrating his 33rd birthday, has missed 34 games this season with the assorted ailments and said his sore left knee, which was drained on Monday, and strained right hamstring are causing him the greatest discomfort.
On Wednesday morning, Woodson approached Davis, telling him the team needs more production in the time he can play, but the two-time All-Star was limited by more than just minutes against the Bucks.
Davis was noticeably affected by the numerous injuries, displaying no lift, walking the ball up the court, while often unable to run back in transition defense. He finished with five points, three assists and five turnovers.
Woodson inserted little-used Mike Bibby to spell him in the first half, before ultimately using rookie Iman Shumpert to handle the ball down the stretch.
The 13-year veteran is averaging his lowest totals in assists (4.9) and rebounds (2.1) since his rookie season, while marking career-lows in points (5.5) and field-goal shooting (34 percent).
“I’m just banged up and the stinger definitely had something to do with [Wednesday],” Davis said. “I was just feeling off, not feeling balanced or strong, which I got to get back. It’s tough that it’s a combination of things.”
Davis said he knows he will not be anywhere near 100 percent for the rest of the season, but with eight games remaining in the regular season, including tonight’s game against the Wizards at Madison Square Garden, he said he will play through the pain to try to help the Knicks secure a postseason berth.
“If we could’ve clinched a playoff spot already, I’d definitely be resting,” Davis said. “I’m just trying to fight, just trying to fight through it to get these wins. I’m just trying to do whatever I can.”