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| Amar'e Stoudemire is a game-time decision on Sunday versus the Miami Heat. (Getty Images) |
That's an open question, as reports indicated on Saturday that Stoudemire will be listed as a game-time decision for Game 4 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
The Heat lead the series 3-0 and Stoudemire missed Game 3 after lacerating his left hand when he punched a fire extinguisher's glass case following a Game 2 loss. The injury was so severe that it required minor surgery.
Stoudemire went through practice on Saturday and Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson made it sound like his power forward could give it a go, according to the Associated Press.
"I think he's going to play," Woodson said. "I think he wants to play and again, if doctors say he's ready to play and they release him, then I'm going to play him."
The Associated Press also reported that Stoudemire badly wants to play, in hopes that he can help the Knicks avoid the sweep.
"I'm a team player man, and I feel like right now we've got an opportunity to where we've got to try to get a win," Stoudemire said. "Sunday we have to play as hard as we can to get one, so I want to be there for my teammates and also for the fans who stuck with me through this process."Stoudemire has still not received medical clearance to play, according to the New York Post.
"With this type of injury, playing Sunday would be out of the question for most people, but for some reason I feel like I'm blessed," Stoudemire said. "I heal fast, I persevere through a lot of injuries. Obviously, the injury to my hand wasn't on purpose, it was accidental. So I feel like the work I put in today and the work I would put in tomorrow, hopefully I would feel better and be ready for Sunday."
"All the fans that stuck with me deserve to see me back on the court, but it's mainly for my teammates because they're working their butts off all season to be in this position to try to go to the next round," Stoudemire said. "And for the guys that may not be back next year, I want to make sure I still leave a great memory on the court with them before it's all said and done. Hopefully, we can get a win Sunday and take it to Miami for Wednesday."
In Stoudemire's absence, the Knicks shifted Carmelo Anthony to the starting power forward position and started Steve Novak in Game 3. Novak struggled mightily -- scoring 0 points and grabbing 2 rebounds in 22 minutes -- so a different lineup combination could be in the works if Stoudemire is unavailable. 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, 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.
