AUBURN HILLS — The Knicks still have not revealed the specifics of Carmelo Anthony’s injury, but coach Mike Woodson said Anthony has “built-up fluid’’ in the back of his right knee.
Anthony sat out Wednesday night’s 87-77 victory against the Pistons, but Woodson did not rule him out tonight for Kevin Durant and the vaunted Thunder.
“He said he felt better,” he said. “We’ve just got to gauge it.”
Anthony didn’t attend the morning shootaround yesterday, staying back at the hotel for treatment as Woodson called him a “game-time decision.” Ninety minutes before tip-off, however, Anthony marched into the arena in a red sweatsuit and told Woodson he would not play.
Woodson did a mea culpa after Monday’s game in Cleveland, saying he kept Anthony in despite Anthony wanting out because of his bum knee. Two minutes later, Anthony crumpled to the court after taking a pass at midcourt. He got up and walked off to the locker room and didn’t return, with the club down 22 points. It caused speculation in many circles that Anthony wasn’t as hurt as he let on, but more embarrassed the Knicks were getting blown out at the time.
The Knicks — who have a history of being vague with injuries — officially have called it a “stiff/sore right knee.” A leading orthopedist from Lenox Hill Hospital, Dr. Leon Popovitz, said yesterday Anthony’s symptoms could be a bone bruise. Or it could be part of a larger cartilage issue.
Woodson said it was Anthony’s decision on whether to play through it.
“From the MRI [exam] he shows he has some fluid build-up, which is causing the stiffness,” Woodson said. “Rest will probably be the best thing for him. He’s got to make that commitment. If he wants to sit down and rest a game or two we’ll do that. It’s still a long season.”
Popovitz said stiffness in the back of the knee can stem from flaking of articular cartilage or a small meniscus tear that doesn’t always show up on a routine MRI exam. According to Popovitz, who is not treating Anthony, the Knicks star can play through the cartilage damage — if that’s what it is — but probably would need offseason arthroscopic knee surgery.
In a telltale sign the knee issue could linger, Woodson said he will lessen Anthony’s minutes when he returns and stick closer to 35 than 40. Anthony has been averaging 37.5 minutes a game.
“He’s been at close to 40 minutes a game,’’ Woodson said. “We got to get him down to 35 minutes a game, somewhere in that neighborhood. That’s where he needs to be playing.’’
Anthony, battling a sore knee for two weeks, has said an MRI exam taken Saturday showed no structural damage, but he could have been referring to his ligaments.
* Woodson lectured reporters for caring too much about the starting lineup when he elected to start Kurt Thomas for Anthony.
He starting lineup was Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert, James White, Tyson Chandler and Thomas.
* Ronnie Brewer, traded at the deadline to open up a roster spot for Kenyon Martin, makes his Garden return tonight.
Brewer has played in two games for the Thunder. Martin, meanwhile, has not played for three straight and played just once. Woodson said Marcus Camby and Thomas are ahead of him.
* Pistons coach Lawrence Frank did not coach the game because of personal reasons.