FOX Sports Exclusive
'Melo out as Lin makes return to NYC
Share This Story
NEW YORK
Jeremy Lin became a breakout star for the New York Knicks with Carmelo Anthony on the bench last season, and now Lin’s highly anticipated return to Madison Square Garden will come under a similar set of circumstances.
Anthony is missing Monday night’s game against Lin and the Houston Rockets with a sprained left ankle, the star forward’s second straight game on the bench after he landed awkwardly on the ankle in the second half of Thursday’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Anthony will be replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Chris Copeland, and the rest of the lineup will remain the same, with Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton, Ronnie Brewer and Tyson Chandler taking the floor against Houston in Lin’s only visit to the Garden this season.
“If he could play, I’m sure he would have been in uniform tonight,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said of Anthony. “But he couldn’t go, and we’ve just got to move on and Cope’s got to come in and play.”
It’s not the first time Anthony has missed time for the East-leading Knicks (18-5), who are 10-0 at home. Anthony missed two games earlier this season after cutting his left middle finger diving for a loose ball in a road win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Dec. 5. New York went 1-1 with Anthony on the bench during that stretch, beating the Miami Heat on the road before losing in Chicago.
Led by Felton (25 points) and Chandler (23 points), New York had five players score in double figures in its win over Cleveland without Anthony on Saturday. Anthony is averaging 27.9 points per game this season, his highest total since the 2009-10 season in Denver.
Woodson said Anthony made the decision not to play against Houston during Monday morning’s film session, despite wanting to face Lin in front of the home crowd. He’ll have another tough decision to make Wednesday, when the Brooklyn Nets visit Madison Square Garden for the first time.
“We’ll evaluate him again tomorrow when we get to practice and see where he is,” Woodson said. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready Wednesday, but we just don’t know at this point. . . . ‘Melo wants to play, and that’s a good thing. But it’s a long season, and I’m not going to waste one game because of who we’re playing.”
Should Anthony’s return to the floor be pushed to Friday’s home meeting with Chicago or Sunday’s game against Minnesota, the last game of a six-game homestand for the Knicks, it may be alongside All-Star big man Amar’e Stoudemire.
Stoudemire has yet to play this season as he recovers from left knee surgery, but Woodson said Stoudemire has been cleared to practice by team doctors, and would begin practicing with the Knicks’ D-League team on Tuesday. If all goes well in practices Tuesday and Thursday, Stoudemire could possibly make his debut this weekend.
“Practices have kind of got to go in his favor,” Woodson said of Stoudemire. “I’m not going to rush him back. He’s got to be ready, and I’m going to lean on him to tell me when he’s ready to go. I just want to make sure he gets out of the practice not hurt. . . . I want to make sure his knee is sound and he’s ready to go.”
More Stories From Sam Gardner
Trending Now
-
Tulloch: Young knows he has disorder
Titus Young, whose three arrests in two weeks raised concern for his mental health, r... -
Akron CB arrested in robbery case
Seth Cunningham, a senior cornerback at the University of Akron, was arrested this we... -
Griner: Mulkey told me to stay mum
In an interview, Brittney Griner says Baylor coach Kim Mulkey did not want the star p... -
Oxbow goes wire to wire in Preakness
Oxbow has won the Preakness, ruining Orb's bid to capture the Triple Crown. -
'Melo, Knicks were destined to fail
Carmelo's hero complex, one-man scheme fails New York yet again.
NBA Videos
Spurs 'D' key against Memphis bigs
Posted: May 19, 2013
Gregg Popovich on the Spurs defense against the Grizzlies.
Gregg Popovich on the Spurs defense against the Grizzlies.
Parker performs in Game 1
Posted: May 19, 2013
Tony Parker talks about the Spurs Game 1 win over the Grizzlies
Tony Parker talks about the Spurs Game 1 win over the Grizzlies
Spurs take Game 1 of Western Conference Finals
Posted: May 19, 2013
Spurs Live recaps Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Spurs Live recaps Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
NBA Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adidas Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers Revolution 30 Performance Jersey - Red | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Clippers/browse/featuredproduct/491845/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_491000/ff_491845_xl.jpg&w=100 | 59.95 | adidas Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers Revolution 30 Performance Jersey - Red |
| adidas LeBron James Miami Heat Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/498609/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_498000/ff_498609_xl.jpg&w=100 | 89.95 | adidas LeBron James Miami Heat Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-Black |
| adidas Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Knicks/browse/featuredproduct/620470/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_620000/ff_620470_xl.jpg&w=100 | 49.99 | adidas Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey.. |
| Mitchell & Ness San Antonio Spurs Black Solid Script Snapback Adjustable Hat | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Antonio_Spurs/browse/featuredproduct/692239/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_692000/ff_692239_xl.jpg&w=100 | 25.95 | Mitchell & Ness San Antonio Spurs Black Solid Script Snapback Adjustable Hat |
| Majestic Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Logo Man T-Shirt - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/851828/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851828_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Majestic Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Logo Man T-Shirt - Black |
| Majestic Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder Logo Man T-Shirt - White | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oklahoma_City_Thunder/browse/featuredproduct/851842/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851842_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Majestic Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder Logo Man T-Shirt - White |
| adidas Miami Heat 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - White | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/890174/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_890000/ff_890174_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | adidas Miami Heat 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Wh.. |
| adidas Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 NBA Western Conference Champions Locker Room Flex Hat - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oklahoma_City_Thunder/browse/featuredproduct/890384/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_890000/ff_890384_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.99 | adidas Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 NBA Western Conference Champions Locker Room F.. |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.