ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s not getting better for ailing Baron Davis. It’s getting worse.
The Knicks point guard told The Post his pulled left hamstring has started to cause other ailments, as his left knee swelled up Wednesday, and he experienced back stiffness.
At an Orlando gym complex where the Knicks practiced, Davis spent virtually all of the time getting treatment, looking gimpy as he walked the hallways.
Davis has been forced into major minutes now as starting point guard because of Jeremy Lin’s regular-season-ending left knee surgery. It’s difficult to imagine the Knicks folding in Indianapolis during a 40-17 fourth quarter if Lin had been out there providing key buckets.
“It’s like a minor setback,’’ Davis told The Post before tonight’s game against the Magic. “It’s messing up other parts of my body. The knee, back tightening up. I may not get to 100 percent this year. At least I want to get to 80, 85 percent. When the hamstring gets better and the knee swelling goes down, I’ll get there.’’
Davis, who earlier this week said his back felt terrific, said the knee swelled up after his 29-minute stint in Indiana, where he shot 2 of 8, and scored six points with three assists. “Because my balance is off, I’m putting more pressure on my knee,’’ Davis said.
Interim coach Mike Woodson said he realizes he will have to reduce Davis’ minutes even more, meaning Mike Bibby, Toney Douglas and rookie Iman Shumpert will see more time at the point.
“What you see in Baron is what you’re going to get the rest of the year,’’ Woodson said. “He’s trying to give what he can give you. He’s not 100 percent. It’s just that simple. I got to gauge it more and try to fit Toney, Bibby and play the rookie at the point.’’
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Help is on the way. Jared Jeffries (knee) said he’s shooting for Sunday’s game against Chicago as his return, meaning he will be back for the big showdown in Milwaukee next Wednesday.
Bill Walker told The Post he also is shooting to make his comeback Sunday against Chicago. Walker hasn’t played since Feb. 17 against New Orleans. He underwent elbow surgery and was thought to be out for the regular season.
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After Carmelo Anthony took 31 shots and scored 39 points in Indianapolis, Woodson said Anthony needs others to stop relying on him so much.
Woodson is trying to implement more non-Anthony plays into his offense that goes away from up-tempo play each day.
“It can’t just be Melo,’’ Woodson said. “I don’t want to come down and have a team saying ‘Here Melo, here’s the ball and we play’. Other guys around him got to feel comfortable in making plays. Right now they think the bailout is Melo.’’
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Dwight Howard (back) will be a game-time decision for the Magic.