Carmelo Anthony will sit out tonight’s Knicks’ road game at Sacramento with a hyper-extended knee and is targeting a return on New Year’s Day.
“It feels much better than it did yesterday,” Anthony, the NBA’s second-leading scorer, told reporters in Sacramento, according to the New York Times. “Today I’m walking much better.”
Anthony injured the knee on Christmas Day against the Lakers when Marcus Camby collided with him while driving to the basket in the second quarter.
Anthony conceded that he remained in the game because of the high-profile nature of the nationally-televised contest. He finished with 34 points.
“It was bothering me the whole game,” Anthony said of his knee. “I thought it was worse. But then once I went out there and starting playing again, I think the adrenaline got me through it. Then after the game is when I thought it was a lot worse.” The Knicks are 3-2 this season without Anthony, including a 20-point win at Miami. Ironically, Anthony may return the same day that Amar’e Stoudemire makes his season debut. Stoudemire said it was “possible” he could play New Year’s Day against Portland. The Knicks are 31-40, including 1-7 in the playoffs, with both Anthony and Stoudemire in the lineup. Photo: Reuters