PHOENIX — Will the Knicks ever get healthy and whole?
Raymond Felton, the team’s starting point guard, said last night he has a fracture in his right pinkie, discovered following an X-ray. He added he will likely need surgery and be out four to six weeks.
Bah, humbug. Carmelo Anthony also missed last night’s 99-97 victor y over the Suns with a hyperextended knee suffered during Tuesday’s loss to the Lakers, but his injury doesn’t appear serious.
The timing of Felton’s latest injury is tough considering Amar’e Stoudemire is expected back on Jan. 1 and Iman Shumpert is gearing up to return later in the month. Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni will now be the point guards.
Felton took the X-ray of his shooting hand at halftime after sitting out last night. He injured the pinkie fighting for a loose ball with the Lakers’ Steve Nash. Felton will fly to New York tomorrow and see a hand specialist to confirm the next course of action, a Knicks official said.
“I may need surgery,’’ Felton said. ‘I got to do what’s best for my hand so I can get back and help this team.’’
Woodson said no tests are scheduled for Anthony, indicating it’s not a major injury.
“Anytime you lose your best player — I don’t know how long he’s going to be out — there is a concern,’’ Woodson said of Anthony.
“It felt like it was this bad because there was also pain in my thumb,’’ Felton said. “But I didn’t think it was this much. I was hurt and angry.’’
Felton walked into the arena last night with his hand wrapped and missed his first game of the season after playing through a series of hand injuries.
“It’s swollen,’’ Felton said of the pinkie. “It was basically purple when I got up this morning. It’s sore and it hurts.”
Felton’s injuries — bone bruises in each hand — have taken a toll on his shooting. He is shooting under 40 percent (39.5) for the season.
Felton soldiered on for weeks. Before the extent of his injury was known, it seems fans are begging him to rest. The Knicks are well-stocked at point guard with Prigioni on the club as a prime-time backup, with Kidd able to slide over to his natural position as starter.
“I’m sure if he could play he would play,’’ Woodson said before the game. ‘I’m sure it’s bothering him. Raymond’s a tough cookie. He plays hurt. I’ve known that throughout his career. It’s one of the reasons we brought him aboard. He’s tough. He has struggled the last few weeks with his hands. If he could play, he would play.’’
It has been a bad week for Felton. His poor shooting on Christmas Day capped a poor stretch of games that began with the loss to Jeremy Lin’s Rockets on Dec. 17. Felton faced lots of pressure replacing Lin, his predecessor who is starting to come alive. Lin had 20 points and 11 assists in a Christmas Day win over the Bulls. Lin is averaging 12.0 points and 6.4 assists.