Thank the basketball gods it was Amar’e Stoudemire’s right knee.
The Knicks forward sustained a sprained right knee in Atlanta on Friday night and is listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Pistons at the Garden, though Mike D’Antoni said he thought Stoudemire would play.
In the third quarter, Atlanta’s Marvin Williams rolled back into Stoudemire, who fell awkwardly to the floor, twisting the knee. Stoudemire returned in the fourth quarter and led a late comeback, finishing with 27 points. But after the Knicks’ 111-102 loss to the Hawks, he said the knee was sore and left his playing status in doubt.
Stoudemire did not make himself available for comment yesterday after leaving practice early to get treatment.
“He said he felt he’s better than he thought it would be,” D’Antoni said. “He rattled it when he got hit. I would say he’s probable.”
Stoudemire underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2005, and his $100 million contract has no insurance for a career-ending knee injury. Stoudemire underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee the same year.
To date, Stoudemire has suffered minor injuries — to his neck, shoulder and calf — but his knees have remained sound and he has not missed a game.
“I’m optimistic,” D’Antoni said. “I asked him if he can go [tonight], he said ‘Yeah, I think so.’ “
*
D’Antoni was nonplussed at Kelenna Azubuike
‘s return to scrimmaging yesterday and Azubuike saying he feels different now because he can push better off his knee. “Good for him,” D’Antoni said. “Watching practice and seeing if he can play, it’s going to be a while. It’s not going to be next week.” Azubuike has a marketable expiring contract and the Knicks could cut him after the trade deadline Feb. 24 to open a roster spot. . . . Orlando point guard Jason Williams
was cut Friday and reportedly was talking to Memphis. The Knicks claimed Williams on waivers in the summer of 2009 but passed on signing him after a workout. Walsh would like to have another backup point guard, but has no roster spot available.