Shumpert sidelined with sore knee
Iman Shumpert #21 and Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks look on late in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. (Jan. 20, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Iman Shumpert's chances of winning the Slam Dunk competition this weekend have taken a major hit.
Shumpert missed Monday night's game against the Nets with left patella tendinitis that coach Mike D'Antoni said has been bothering the rookie for a while.
"Because we were short-handed, he got through it," D'Antoni said. "Rest will take care of it. It's something the pain has to calm down some."
It's not the same knee Shumpert sprained in the opener against Boston. But D'Antoni said Shumpert's knee was really sore after the Dallas game Sunday and that he went to the doctors. He will be re-evaluated before the Knicks play Atlanta Wednesday.
Shumpert was selected to compete in the Slam Dunk contest Saturday night in Orlando, Fla., as part of All-Star Weekend.
Did Melo suggest Lin?
D'Antoni doesn't remember Carmelo Anthony coming to him and saying he should play Jeremy Lin the last time the Knicks faced the Nets.
Both players went on the radio last week and said Anthony went to D'Antoni and suggested he give Lin a try.
"I don't remember that," D'Antoni said. "Maybe he did. But I don't remember it. I don't know. Maybe he did. I don't know. Maybe it happened."
D'Antoni later said he went to interim general manager Glen Grunwald and said he wanted to get a look at Lin before the deadline for players' contracts to be guaranteed.
"Thank goodness we did," D'Antoni said.
Buzzer-beaters
Bill Walker missed his second straight game with a sore left elbow . . . D'Antoni said Josh Harrellson, who is rehabbing from surgery to repair his fractured right wrist, might be able to play in the Knicks' first game after the All-Star break (Feb. 29 vs. Cleveland) . . . Lin's 14 assists against Dallas on Sunday were the most by a Knick since Raymond Felton had 15 against the Wizards on Jan. 24, 2011.
