Knicks backup point guard Pablo Prigioni is not as close to returning as previously thought.
Prigioni said he’s at least one week away from returning, and coach Mike Woodson, before the Knicks surprised the Heat 102-92 at the Garden, said it could be two weeks.
When Prigioni broke his toe Dec. 16, the Knicks announced a timetable of “at least two weeks.’’ However, Prigioni said the timetable probably should have been longer.
“I did X-rays two days ago, it looks really good,’’ said Prigioni, who had been excelling in games before his injury. “But I have to wait a little bit more. The plan is Saturday, start to run see how I feel and at the end of next week [play] but I’m not sure.’’
It has been more than three weeks since he went down.
“Fractures normally take four-to-six weeks,’’ Prigioni said. “I haven’t made four weeks.’’
One week before the Knicks’ trip to Texas, Prigioni spoke to the media and said he was eyeing playing in the San Antonio game after taking shots and running for the first time. But he admitted that was wishful thinking and said he didn’t have a setback.
“I expected to feel good, maybe it was desire,’’ Prigioni said. “They told me, ‘Slow down, don’t go so fast. Come back early, you fracture again and it be worse.’ We make sure it’s completely fixed. Now four, four-and-a-half, five weeks, it’s the same to me.’’
Woodson said Prigioni should return in “another couple of weeks — a week or two.’’ ***
With starting point guard Raymond Felton back, scoring 14 points and dishing 13 assists Thursday, the Knicks were only missing their No. 2 and No. 3 guy against the Heat. No. 3 Beno Udrih was out after an MRI exam revealed an inflamed knee. Fourth-stringer Toure’ Murry was Felton’s backup. ***
In light of the center position being removed from All-Star ballots in favor of the moniker “frontcourt,” Carmelo Anthony, as one of three leading vote-getters, could be the starting center at the All-Star Game in New Orleans next month.