NBA

Chandler out 4-6 weeks with right leg fracture

Well, at least Knicks center Tyson Chandler won’t require surgery.

And so ends the good news portion of the Knicks’ day.

Chandler suffered a right leg fracture — officially “a small non-displaced fracture of the right fibula,” the Knicks announced Wednesday — and is expected to be lost for four to six weeks. For a team already struggling defensively, the absence of its best interior defender could have crippling repercussions, even in the short haul, and could send the Knicks scrambling back to their small-ball approach.

“He’s our anchor down there on the defensive end. So we miss him big-time,” Carmelo Anthony said.

Chandler was injured after 6:35 of the first quarter Tuesday when he collided with Charlotte guard Kemba Walker during the Knicks’ disheartening, early defense-free 102-97 defeat. There was no immediate diagnosis after X-rays were inconclusive, but following additional exams Wednesday, the Knicks presented the verdict.

The additional tests Wednesday morning “showed no ligament or nerve damage. Surgery is not required,” the Knicks said.

Coach Mike Woodson acknowledged he will need to rethink his platoon system involving Amar’e Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin. Stoudemire looked painfully rusty in his 11-minute cameo Tuesday when he committed five turnovers. In an ESPN Radio interview Wednesday, Woodson said a return to his small-ball lineup appears the way to go.

“Probably so,” Woodson said. “It’s been proven since I’ve been here that the small lineup works.”

Most of the time, anyway.

“There’s going to be nights against teams like the Pacers and Brooklyn and other big teams where I don’t know if the small lineup will fare very well,” Woodson said, stressing he must “try to put a lineup on the floor that’s competing. It doesn’t matter who starts you still have to compete.”

With Stoudemire and Martin both on restricted minutes — Martin likely will be bumped up from the 18 he played Tuesday — Woodson said Andrea Bargnani could be playing center with Raymond Felton, Pablo Prigioni and Iman Shumpert handling the wings. Anthony would again be at the power-forward spot where he spent most of last season in his scoring championship campaign. And perimeter relief is coming Sunday when J.R. Smith returns from suspension.

“That’s really the only route I have right now because of the fact that Kenyon and Amar’e are both on restricted minutes,” Woodson said. “I have to not save them, I have to share some of that as we go down this road.”

Bargnani already has been subjected to a Garden hate-fest, but Woodson said, “You’ve got to play him. He’s a talented kid that’s still trying to find himself. I’ve got to do a better job in helping him … teammates have got to help him. He’s good enough to help us win. We got to put it together and get a little chemistry going.”

So go ahead. Grab any good news you can find swirling around Chandler, the former defensive player of the year.

“We’ve got guys who’ve played in this league that’s ready to do what they have to do to do the job,” said Martin, who was supposed to have Tuesday off under the platoon system but ended up playing 18 minutes after starting the second half. “I’m ready.”

Of course, it would be just downright swell if one of those stepping up was a legit center, especially for a Knicks team that surrendered 64 points in the first half in consecutive games, both defeats (Minnesota and Charlotte).

Given Stoudemire’s current status and the lack of another true center on the roster, Chandler’s loss is particularly rough. Before the injury, he was averaging 9.0 points a game, and leading the team with 11.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. He has played with renewed vigor and production after his injury-plagued playoff wipeout against Indiana and Roy Hibbert last season.

But it’s going to take more than one guy to replace Chandler.

“Guys are going to have to step up in place of Tyson,” Anthony said. “We’ve got to come together and do it as a team.”