Knicks F Amar'e Stoudemire (hand) says 'great chance' he plays in Game 4 vs. Heat
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| Amar'e Stoudemire will try to play in Game 4 versus the Miami Heat. (Getty Images) |
Speaking for the first time since he lacerated his left hand while punching a locker room fire extinguisher at American Airlines Arena following a Game 2 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday, New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire told reporters that there is a "great chance" he is available for Game 4 of the series on Sunday.
"I think there's a great chance I'l play Sunday, not totally sure yet," Stoudemire said, according to ESPNNY.com.
The Knicks officially listed him as "out" for Thursday night's Game 3 at Madison Square Garden and listed him as "doubtful" for Game 4 after he underwent surgery to repair a small muscle in his hand on Tuesday. The team also noted that Stoudemire would be re-evaluated as necessary after that.
Following Monday's loss, Stoudemire left American Airlines Arena in Miami with a lacerated hand that was heavily bandaged and in a sling without speaking to reporters. He did not speak to the media on Tuesday.
The Heat lead the Eastern Conference first round playoff series 2-0.
In Stoudemire's absence, the Knicks are expected to shift Carmelo Anthony to the starting power forward position. The Knicks are also without guard Iman Shumpert, who tore his left ACL in Game 1, and guard Jeremy Lin, who is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Stoudemire finished Game 2 with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block on 6-for-9 shooting but Miami won easily, 104-94, to take a 2-0 series lead.
Stoudemire, 29, averaged 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 assist and 1.0 block in 32.8 minutes per game for the Knicks this season. He played in 47 of the Knicks' 66 regular season games, missing time due to an ankle injury, a bulging disk in his back and because of a death in the family.
