The New York Knicks could be bolstered by the return of forward Amare Stoudemire, reportedly likely by the weekend, if he returns this week (via ESPN NY).
Stoudemire will definitely not play on Tuesday against the Celtics. However, he may be back in the lineup by Friday against the Cavaliers or Sunday against the Hawks.
Stoudemire has been out since March 24 with a back injury. He had an epidural on March 29 and returned to practice with his Knicks teammates last Thursday.
Interim Knicks head coach Mike Woodson did not sound as optimistic last week as the sources referred to by ESPN New York.
"I've got to think that the doctors and Amare are on the same page in terms of where he is," Woodson said last week. "When they tell me he's ready to go he'll be right back in the starting lineup, where I expect him to be."
Without Stoudemire, the Knicks are 7-4. Stoudemire is second on the team in scoring (17.6 points per game) and rebounding (8.0 per game) this season.
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