CLEVELAND — Amar’e Stoudemire will rejoin a playoff team Friday night.
The Knicks officially clinched a playoff berth Thursday night when the ninth-place Bucks lost to the Pacers, 118-109. That good news is coupled with tonight’s, as Stoudemire is slated to rock and roll in Cleveland, making his long-awaited return from a 13-game absence due to a bulging disk.
The Knicks qualified for their second straight postseason after a six-season dry spell, and it was no certainty when Mike Woodson took over for Mike D’Antoni on March 14 with the club six games below .500. The Knicks reeled off a 15-5 record with their interim coach to get them to the postseason.
With Stoudemire, they will either continue to make sweet music or fall out of rhythm, just when Carmelo Anthony is tearing up the NBA at the power forward position.
Stoudemire, according to a source, will have his minutes capped and use the game to start getting back into game shape.
He will have just four games to get in sync with Anthony — maybe fewer if Anthony sits out a potentially meaningless finale in Charlotte on Thursday.
The Knicks occupy the No. 7 spot in the East, leading the eight-seed Sixers by one game, and would face Miami in the first round if the standings go unchanged. The Knicks still have something to play for as they trail the Dwight Howard-less Magic by three games for the No. 6 seed and own the tiebreaker. A sixth seed would mean no Miami or Chicago in Round 1.
Stoudemire was supposed to endure one final 4-on-4 scrimmage Thursday, but it was canceled because his teammates were too tired after back-to-back games. Instead, Stoudemire hit the weight room for his last test. Late Thursday night, Stoudemire released a video on Twitter saying he would play Friday night.
The styles of the Knicks’ two stars have clashed on the court since Anthony’s arrival late last season. He is playing the best he has all season since Stoudemire’s back went out vs. Detroit March 24, with Anthony saying he is “feeling good about myself.’’
Stoudemire often looks better when Anthony is on the bench and vice-versa. It’s the elephant in the room.
Anthony is averaging 30.6 points on 50.5 percent shooting since Stoudemire has been sidelined — the NBA’s highest scoring average during that span. Since March 26, LeBron James is averaging 28.1 points and Kevin Durant 27.4 points.
“We’re looking forward to him coming back,’’ Anthony said. “It’s another body we’re missing that we definitely can use — another rebounder, another guy we can go to. Not having to rely on me every night.’’
The biggest statistic is the Knicks’ 9-4 record in the 13 games without Stoudemire, and they can clinch their second straight winning season with a win Friday night. Predictably, the Knicks (33-29) have brushed off worries their max-contract 6-foot-11 power-forward stud could disrupt recent success. Woodson has acknowledged the Stoudemire-Anthony tandem hasn’t always sung in tune.
The dream scenario is Stoudemire becomes the monster he was in Game 1 vs. Boston in the playoffs last April. Unfortunately, nobody has seen that guy since — he hurt his back in pregame warm-ups before Game 2. So far this season, he is averaging 17.6 points on 47.7 percent shooting and 8.0 rebounds a game.
Anthony rung up his lone triple-double as a Knick Tuesday without Stoudemire, and posted two 40-plus games during the 13-game rampage. Scouts have opined the two don’t mesh because both like the ball on the elbow. Stoudemire also has not fit seamlessly with center Tyson Chandler, as both score similarly off pick and rolls.
“I just want to continue playing the way I’m playing,’’ Anthony said. “[Stoudemire will] be fine coming in and fitting right in. This is crunch time now. This is the time we have to be on the same page. Bringing him back just gives us another option on offense and another big on the defensive end.’’
D’Antoni never figured out how to make it work. Woodson hasn’t had much of a chance either, though Stoudemire’s defense after D’Antoni resigned got tighter. Woodson has insisted Stoudemire will return as a starter, which means either starting shooting guard Landry Fields or rookie defensive stopper Iman Shumpert will return to the bench.
Stoudemire’s injury coincided with Jeremy Lin’s knee issue. The point guard is expected out until the second round.
“It’s my job to fit him back in the mix,’’ Woodson said of Stoudemire. “When we started this process, he and Jeremy Lin both missed seven straight games and we were [5-2]. We were probably playing better at that particular time. It’s my job to get him back in the mix. He’s a big part of what we do here in New York. He will start when he comes back. It’s my job to push him to help us stay where we are.’’
It would be alarming if Stoudemire made the Knicks worse. Because of his $100 million contract, the Knicks have little flexibility this summer and could lose both bench standouts — Steve Novak, a free agent, and J.R. Smith, expected to opt out of his last year. Stoudemire has been viewed as untradeable — owed $65 million across the next three years. The contract is uninsured because of his injury history. Stoudemire’s bulging disk likely will require surgery, perhaps as soon as this offseason.
“I don’t think there’s going to be any chemistry issues,’’ Anthony said. “When he comes back, the flow of the game will still be the same. We’re not worried about it. We want him back healthy and fit right in what we already have. Not just fit in but add to what we have going on right now.’’
Two games before going down vs. Detroit, Stoudemire returned to his old form in Philly — his recent weight loss making him quicker to the hole. And the Knicks so badly needed a secondary option to Anthony in Sunday’s loss to Miami. However, rust should be evident tonight in Cleveland.
“Before he went out, our rhythm was good,’’ Smith said. “That game in Philly, he played unbelievable. We missed him the last few weeks. We need him, especially that Miami game. We need him healthy. I don’t think he’ll slow us down at any point. That’s how he plays. He plays our type of speed. We need him, especially in the post.’’
Chandler said Stoudemire’s injury could be a blessing in disguise.
“Everything I’ve seen, he’s looked great, honestly,’’ Chandler said. “He’s moving well, with the way this season has been. It may be a great thing for him — to be able to take these games off and come back fully energized.’’
How Woodson gets Anthony and Stoudemire to jell might be the final judgment on whether the Knicks’ interim coach gets a contract extension from owner James Dolan.
“I’m not looking at it in that light,’’ Woodson said on whether Stoudemire’s return could set them back. “A lot of you guys are looking at it that way. But as a coach, he’s a pro player who’s been a dominate player in this league for a long time. With help of myself, we’ll figure it out.’’