Carmelo Anthony Injury Update: Knicks' Forward Will Play Monday Against Nets

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks will play Monday night against the New Jersey Nets at 7:30 p.m.

Carmelo Anthony tells me he will be back for the Knicks tonight - time to see what this team can do w/all its different parts

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 20, 2012

A groin injury has sidelined the Knicks' star player for the past seven games. During Anthony's absence, Jeremy Lin has led New York to a 6-1 record. The Knicks are now 16-16 overall as a result.

Anthony leads the Knicks with 22.3 points per game this season. Lin leads the team with 5.6 assists per game. Lin has averaged 22.2 points per game and 10.3 assists per game in his last five starts.

In addition to the return of Anthony, Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni said that Baron Davis and Tyson Chandler will play tonight while Iman Shumpert will sit due to a knee injury (via ESPN).

For more Knicks coverage, check out the SB Nation blog Posting And Toasting.

Carmelo Anthony Injury Update: Knicks' All-Star Out 1-2 Weeks With Strained Groin

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony will miss the next 1-2 weeks with a strained groin, according to the New York Times' Howard Beck, and no further tests are scheduled to examine the injury.

Anthony hurt himself while throwing an alley-oop to Tyson Chandler midway through the first quarter of Monday night's game against the Utah Jazz, then called timeout on New York's following possession to remove himself from the game. He was examined by trainers and taken to the locker room, but returned to the bench wearing street clothes in the fourth quarter to watch the end of the Jeremy Lin Experience.

Amare Stoudemire remains out indefinitely after the tragic death of his brother in a car accident, leaving the Knicks without their two biggest stars and best scorers. Lin and Steve Novak stepped up against Utah on Monday, but they will have serious pressure to continue playing over their heads for as long as Anthony and Stoudemire remain out.

For more on Carmelo Anthony's injury, check back to this StoryStream. If you'd like more on the Knicks, check out the SB Nation blog Posting And Toasting.

Carmelo Anthony Injury: Knicks' All-Star Strains Groin, 'Day-To-Day' After Victory

The feel-good story of New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin continued Monday, however, the cost of a Knicks victory came at the cost as star forward Carmelo Anthony strained his groin on a first-quarter, alley-oop pass to center Tyson Chandler. Anthony called timeout and never returned to the game for the Knicks, who're already without power forward Amar'e Stoudemire and veteran point guard Baron Davis.

After the 99-88 victory over the Utah Jazz, Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni said Anthony is listed as "day-to-day":

"He’ll be revaluated [today],’’ D’Antoni said. "It’s usually a day or two [to see] does it swell up or is there blood? We’ll find out [today]. But it’ll be a couple days before we know the extent of it.’’

Anthony had just returned to the lineup after spraining his ankle Jan. 14.

Meanwhile, Stoudemire is out an undisclosed amount of time because of the unexpected death of his brother, while Davis is out with a mysterious back injury.

For more on Carmelo Anthony's injury, check back to this StoryStream. If you'd like more on the Knicks, check out the SB Nation blog Posting And Toasting.

Knicks 99, Jazz 88: The Jeremy Lin Show Continues As Knicks Win Second Straight

He couldn’t do it again, could he? Actually, Jeremy Lin one-upped himself.

A new Madison Square Garden star has been born over the past two Knicks games, and it’s a diminutive second-year point guard from Harvard. After catapulting the Knicks to a crucial win on Saturday with 25 points, Jeremy Lin led a severely shorthanded New York team to a 99-88 win over the Utah Jazz (13-10) on Monday, notching a career high 28 points and 8 assists. The Knicks have been clamoring for competent point guard play, and at the moment they’ve found their new starter in the least likely of places.

The Knicks (10-15) came into the game shorthanded, and six minutes in they found themselves decimated. Amare Stoudemire was at home in Florida after the tragic passing this morning of his older brother Hazell, and Carmelo Anthony strained his groin halfway through the first quarter. Lin, who earned his first career start, suddenly found himself having to run the offense without a safety net.

With their main offensive weapons missing, the Knicks’ defense had to be good and it certainly was in the first half. The Knicks had nine steals before halftime, which helped launch them to a 13-point advantage at the half. A main component of that was the Knicks’ bench, led by Steve Novak who hit five 3-pointers in the game for a season-high 19 points. The third quarter saw the Jazz get back into the game, setting up a fourth quarter that the Knicks easily could have given away. With Tyson Chandler in foul trouble and their thin bench being severely stretched out. But that’s when Lin again took over the game as he did on Saturday. A clearly confident Lin hit a huge three-pointer with the shot clock expiring to put the Knicks up 95-96, essentially icing the game.

Aside from Lin and Novak, the Knicks also got some under-the-radar good performances from others. Jared Jeffries finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds and also took five charges. In his post-game press conference, Mike D’Antoni staunchly defended Jeffries, saying that fans who boo him "need to re-examine a few things in their life". Jeffries surely is one of the Knicks’ best glue guys, and he has played a huge role in their past two wins.

Despite being in foul trouble, it’s pretty incredible when you realize the effect Chandler had on the game. In just 22 minutes, he led the Knicks with a +18 rating, finishing with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals.

The Knicks now have a legitimate chance at winning three straight, as they visit the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. Will the Linsanity continue?