NBA

Felton still day-to-day, but could return soon

HOUSTON — While Jeremy Lin and the Rockets defeated the Knicks for the fourth straight time on Friday at Toyota Center, Lin’s successor, Raymond Felton, continued to speak mysteriously about his return.

Felton repeated he’s still “day-to-day’’ with his strained groin, but indicated he could be a practice or two away from returning. Perhaps it depends on how he feels once he does any contact drills, because the groin is a tricky injury. But Felton is not revealing anything beyond that, or confirming if the tests showed he had a strained groin.

Felton strained his groin 11 days ago in Orlando and hadn’t spoken since he said he felt “a pop.’’

“One day at a time, that’s all I can say,’’ Felton said before the Knicks’ 102-100 loss to the Rockets. “I’ve been running for two days.’’

Felton said he probably will attempt to practice the next session the Knicks hold when they return to New York after the trip.

When asked if he feels he could return on the Knicks’ first game back at the Garden against Detroit on Jan. 7 or if he feels it could be a couple of weeks, Felton laughed.

“I like how you twisted that,’’ Felton said. “It’s smart. Day to day.’’

It’s unclear if Felton’s weight is an issue and whether the training staff wants him to lose some pounds before he returns to the court to prevent a relapse of the groin injury or hamstring strain. Felton missed his 15th game this season and fifth straight Friday.

Lin (14 points, four assists before being benched in the fourth quarter) had a recent knee sprain and missed six games, but has been back the last two and now is the starting point guard after Patrick Beverley fractured his hand. Lin was 3-0 against coach Mike Woodson’s Knicks entering Friday. He’s averaging 14.1 points and 4.2 assists, shooting 48 percent.


Amar’e Stoudemire (six points, seven rebounds) wouldn’t say the exact year he had bloodspinning therapy, but denied he had it this summer, saying it was indeed arthroscopic surgery.

Stoudemire said of the controversial blood procedure: “I don’t know if it worked or not.’’

Metta World Peace said Stoudemire had the “PRP’’ and recommended it. A source told The Post he had it a couple of years ago. Stoudemire appeared annoyed that World Peace made the disclosure.


Point guard Beno Udrih notched 10 points and seven assists in the Knicks’ win over San Antonio on Thursday, but also committed two turnovers and nearly a third in the final 30 seconds.

Woodson looked perturbed after Udrih’s mistakes, yelling at him on a couple of occasions. The coach pulled Udrih after a third-quarter pass got intercepted and taken down for a Spurs layup. As he Udrih walked by him, Woodson wouldn’t even look at him.

“That’s you saying I looked a little angry,’’ Woodson snapped. “No, I’m just coaching. How’s that sound?’’

Udrih (10 points, seven assists on Friday) recently expressed frustration at media criticism but he could have been referring to Woodson, too. Woodson rebuffed a question on whether he was mad at Udrih on Thursday.

“He’s been fine,’’ Woodson said. “I thought he played solid the other night. He made a couple of mistakes down the stretch. One he made we were able to get the hustle and get the ball back and Iman hit the big 3. He was solid up until that point. Things happen. We still withstood that the two turnovers he did have.’’