Despite recent reports Amar’e Stoudemire hoped to return from his back injury by next weekend, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said he does not plan on having the power forward anytime soon.
Stoudemire has missed the past six games with a bulging disk in his back and originally was given a timetable to return of 2-4 weeks — Wednesday marks two weeks since the diagnosis — but Woodson said he has no new information to suggest a return is imminent.
“At this point, I’m not counting on Amar’e right now to come back,” Woodson said after yesterday’s practice, declining to give a new timetable. “You’ve got to ask the medical people that, but the bottom line is he’s not going to be in uniform for a while.
“How long it’s going to be? I don’t know. I’m sure if he feels like he’s ready to play, if he’s ready, he’ll let us know that, based on the therapy work that he continues to go through. I’m dealing with the guys that we have healthy that are in uniform. That’s all we have at this point.”
* After Thursday’s win over Orlando, Carmelo Anthony lauded Tyson Chandler’s play with an injured left wrist in the midst of the playoff race. Anthony mistakenly said Chandler was playing with a fracture, but the center confirmed that though he is playing in pain, his wrist is not fractured.
“It’s hurt. I’ve been banged up throughout the season, but I’m alright,” Chandler said. “I don’t have a fracture. I’m not sure what the diagnosis is. It’s too complicated basically. If I try to explain it, I’m not a doctor. … I came down awkwardly and it has given me problems since, but it’s not something that’s surgical.”
* Woodson said he has not had a chance to speak with Isiah Thomas since the former Knicks executive/coach was fired by Florida International on Friday. Woodson and Thomas were college teammates at Indiana. … Jared Jeffries, who has missed the past eight games with knee inflammation, participated in the shootaround yesterday. Woodson said the defensive specialist will be evaluated this morning and will be a game-time decision for today’s clash with the Bulls at the Garden. … Bill Walker, who has not played since Feb. 17 and underwent elbow surgery in early March, said he will be available to play today.