J.R. Smith sat out Wednesday’s 106-101 overtime loss to the Kings in the final game before the All-Star break, unhappy with the mask the Knicks provided him with to protect his fractured cheekbone. The guard also said he is fearful of going blind if he gets hit while playing without the mask.
Smith, who broke his cheekbone on Kevin Durant’s knee Sunday in Oklahoma City, said he will have to wear the mask for four-to-five weeks and sounded concerned about how well he will adjust.
The reigning Sixth Man of the Year said the mask didn’t fit well when he warmed up on the Garden court. He said he hopes a refitted mask will be ready for Tuesday’s game in Memphis and hopes to play then.
“I’m extremely unused to it,’’ Smith said. “It’s hot in there. It gets steamy, foggy. … I’m so used to regular sweating. And there’s a funnel at bottom of the face. It doesn’t hurt. It’s a little uncomfortable. We have to get it more fitted to my face — restructured a little bit. Some parts are fine. Some parts are uncomfortable around the nose area. [We’ll] go back to the drawing board [and] get some guys to look at it. ‘’
As big a game as the Kings’ match was for the embattled coach Mike Woodson and the Knicks, there was no way Smith felt it worth risking his vision. Smith also will feel more relieved to “wait’’ for the fracture to heal more.
“It’s way too risky to play without it,’’ he said. “The consequences is to get hit again in that spot, lose my vision. I don’t want that. They don’t want that. I’ll wait it out. Wait one game. First time I’ve missed a game for injury in a while.’’
Richard Hamilton, who wore a facemask across part of his career, has spoken to Smith about wearing a mask.
“I got good pointers from Rip,’’ Smith said.
Smith said the team doctors took a laser X-ray of his face, and made a mold for the mask. But he didn’t get it until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Woodson had said on Tuesday he didn’t think Smith wouldn’t miss the game.
“The most important thing is getting comfortable wearing the mask,’’ Smith said. “That’s the toughest factor before, then the guys will have enough time [to make it] suitable for my face.’’
Knicks great Bernard King was honored during a second-quarter timeout for his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
It got worse for the duo of Beno Udrih and Metta World Peace as neither played even after Smith backed out and Iman Shumpert missed the second half because of a hip flexor problem. Udrih and World Peace are strong trade candidates at the Feb. 20 deadline and there doesn’t appear to be a promotion on the horizon. Udrih sat for the ninth straight game and 11th in 12.
The Wizards reportedly have interest in Udrih. The Spurs, who offered him a deal in the summer, may also be interested and San Antonio assistant general manager Scott Layden was at the game. His agent, Marc Cornstein, met with Udrih before the game.
Raymond Felton wears No. 2, but said there’s no relationship to the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, who announced Wednesday he will retire after the 2014 season.
Nevertheless, Felton said he has great respect for the Yankees captain.
“Great career, big-time fan,’’ Felton said. “He’s definitely a scholar. It’s definitely the way you want to carry yourself.
Meanwhile, Smith said he is a big Yankees fan. His reaction: “He gave us a lot of years. You got to bow down to Jeter. The greatest ever.’’
The Knicks will reconvene for practice Monday in Memphis.