Both Amar’e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin said they plan to play tonight when the Knicks face the Bucks at Madison Square Garden. But what the Knicks will get from the two stars is a much bigger issue and a far bigger worry.
Stoudemire and Lin were hurting after Saturday’s rout of the Pistons, putting both players’ status in question for tonight’s critical game. With 17 games remaining in the season, the Knicks lead the Bucks by 1 1/2 games for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. This will be the third of four meetings between the clubs this year. The Bucks won the first two.
“It’s a huge game. Huge game,” Tyson Chandler said. “I think both teams know what’s at stake. We have an opportunity to move a game ahead of them. It’s huge.”
But Lin is battling a sore left knee, and Stoudemire is dealing with lower back soreness, the second time in the last year he has been struck with back woes. During last season’s playoff series against the Celtics, Stoudemire pulled a back muscle and needed the whole offseason to recuperate.
He insisted on Saturday this problem isn’t the same, “just muscle tightness.”
Even interim coach Mike Woodson, however, admitted, “I am concerned about Amar’e.”
The Knicks didn’t practice yesterday, but after Saturday’s game, Stoudemire said, “I don’t think there’s a reason why I wouldn’t play Monday.”
Even if Stoudemire plans to play, there are three big issues:
* One, what if the injury flares up during the morning shoot-around or in pregame warm-ups and Stoudemire can’t go?
* Two, what if he plays but is hampered during the game?
* Three, what if he’s playing fine but the injury acts up at some point and forces him to the sidelines?
Stoudemire has been terrific lately and was outstanding in the Knicks’ two losses to the Bucks, averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds. If he isn’t at that level tonight, the Knicks figure to have trouble, especially because backup Jared Jeffries is out with an inflamed right knee.
Lin’s sore left knee is less of a worry than Stoudemire’s back. Nevertheless, Lin is a critical component of the Knicks’ offense, and backup Baron Davis is not healthy either, dealing with hamstring and back issues.
“I’ll be all right,” Lin said.
Lin will be matched up against Milwaukee point guard Brandon Jennings, who has dismantled the Knicks this season, putting up 36 points against them on Jan. 20 and 25 on March 9. Jennings is averaging 20.7 points in nine career games versus the Knicks, who passed on him in the 2009 Draft to take Jordan Hill.
“That’s a real big game for us,” Carmelo Anthony said. “Going up against them, fighting for that eighth spot. We definitely want to continue playing the way we’ve been playing. As far as that game goes, it’s a very big game for us. We need that game. We’re gonna go out there and do everything in our power to get it.”