A pall hung over New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson on Saturday as he broke the stunning news to reporters before his team's 113-84 blowout victory over visiting Utah.
Amare Stoudemire faces another knee surgery. He's expected to miss six weeks, which pegs his return around April 20 -- three days after the Knicks' regular-season finale. He also missed the first 30 games due to knee surgery.
And despite an inspiring victory without Carmelo Anthony and Stoudemire -- the Knicks led by 32 in the fourth quarter -- they do not know how this blow will impact their season.
"It's a loss, a major loss," Woodson said of Stoudemire. "But we can't sulk. Guys have to step up."
Anthony missed his third straight game because of a stiff/sore right knee. He'll be re-evaluated Sunday before the Knicks leave for a five-game road trip that begins Monday against the Warriors.
No Amare? No Carmelo? No problem -- at least for one night. Backups J.R. Smith (24 points) and Steve Novak (20) led the way for New York.
The Jazz completed a 0-4 trip that dropped it into a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Suns 107,
Nuggets 111, Timberwolves 88: Ty Lawson had 32 points, and Denver beat Minnesota to stretch its home win streak to 13 games, its longest in 14 years. The Nuggets have won eight in a row overall.
Nets 93, Hawks 80: Former Stanford star Brook Lopez had 18 points and nine rebounds, and host Brooklyn won its third straight game.
Grizzlies 96, Hornets 85: Mike Conley had 22 points, and Memphis beat visiting New Orleans for its fourth straight victory.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.




Font Resize

