Knicks will play on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.
The New York Knicks have received a timely boost following the news that power forward Amar’e Stoudemire will return on Saturday to face the Indiana Pacers.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson revealed he would play on a limited minutes basis, and will likely feature for between 10 and 15 minutes in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semi-finals clash.
Stoudemire hasn’t played since March 7 and has been recovering from a right knee debridement, and Woodson is keen to avoid any setbacks.
“It won’t be very many minutes,” he told reporters as quoted by ESPN.
“I’m thinking somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes, if that.”
The Knicks are currently tied at 1-1 in their series with the Pacers, and will be looking to regain the initiative when they head to Indiana.
The 30-year-old returned to the court on Thursday to take full contact in scrimmaging for the second time this week. With no signs of any ill-effects with his knee, Stoudemire is ready to suit up and contribute what he can to the Knicks cause.
However, it will be a tough ask against the likes of Roy Hibbert, David West and Tyler Hansbrough and both his recovery and fitness will be tested in an intimidating atmosphere. Yet Stoudemire is confident he is back at a level where he can have his say in what will be his eighth playoff run.
“I’m not playing 40 minutes a night so, as far as my conditioning now, it’s in great shape as far as the amount of time I’m going to play,” he told reporters.
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