GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Knicks fans shouldn’t expect the return of Linsanity on Wednesday.
Jeremy Lin is likely done for the season and won’t play in Game 5 Wednesday in Miami, interim head coach Mike Woodson said Tuesday.
“He’s out,” Woodson said. “Speaking with medical…Jeremy will not play in this series.”
Asked if Lin could play in a potential Game 7 Sunday if the series were extended that far, Woodson said, “I don’t think so.”
Lin hasn’t played since March 24 and underwent knee surgery on April 2 for the meniscus tear with a timetable for a return set at six weeks.
Lin did not speak with reporters Tuesday but Woodson said he shot around.
“He wants to play, but if he’s not ready there’s not a whole lot can be done,” Woodson said. “We are short-handed but that’s what it is, man. He’s said he’s not ready, he’s not ready to go. Can’t play.”
Carmelo Anthony said he spoke privately with Lin recently and urged him not to rush back if he’s not ready.
“I talked to Jeremy,” Anthony said. “We had a private conversation about his return. What we talked about I’ll keep that between ourselves. But to me my main thing is his health. If he’s not 100 percent healthy, 110 percent healthy then there’s no need to come out there, no telling how many minutes he’s going to play coming back haven’t been playing. I just want him to take care of himself.”
In Lin’s continued absence and with Baron Davis done for the season with his own devastating knee injury, Mike Bibby will start and Woodson said he could play as many as 30-40 minutes at the point. Anthony and J.R. Smith could also see time running the offense in this do-or-die game.
“I’m going to play guys that are playing,” he said. “If he’s playing well, then he’s going to play. I can’t worry about tomorrow.
“I gotta try to win a game, one game [Wednesday] and try to get back home.”
