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New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony is unlikely to feature against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday as he has been listed as doubtful due to back spasms.
Anthony revealed on Wednesday that he remained “stiff” and “sore” after he was forced to leave Monday night’s loss to the Houston Rockets early due to the problem.
As of Wednesday night, the Knicks medical staff had not given Anthony a specific timetable for his return and so they are likely to be short-handed when they travel to OKC.
“They said these things are hard to gauge — I just don’t know how long I’ll be out,” Anthony said Wednesday night through a team spokesman.
Knicks coach Derek Fisher had earlier revealed that Anthony was making “some progress” but not enough to be passed fit for Friday’s game and so he would be considered day-to-day.
The Knicks also lost against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night without their top scorer, and as a result they are now 4-12 for the season after losing 11 of their last 13 games.
The injury will be a concern for New York with Anthony already complaining of discomfort in his left knee and so they will be anxious to see how long he will be sidelined for.
The 30-year-old is leading the Knicks in scoring with 23.2 points per game with Amar’e Stoudemire coming in next highest with 11.6 points per game.
JR Smith stepped up in his absence in Dallas, but ultimately, if Fisher and the Knicks hope to get out of their slump then they will need their main star healthy to lead the charge.
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