Knicks expect Chandler back for Mavericks
New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler (21) makes a jump pass around Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. (Jan. 27, 2011) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Full strength or not, Wilson Chandler is expected to make his return Wednesday against the Mavericks. How long he'll be able to play, however, still is in question.
Chandler, who missed his second straight game Sunday because of a sore left calf, did not practice Tuesday. But coach Mike D'Antoni said the forward is probable to play against Dallas.
"He got some treatment yesterday, needed 24 hours to be ready to go," D'Antoni said. "Tomorrow morning, he'll work out before he plays."
Amar'e Stoudemire (knees) and Toney Douglas (left shoulder) also were excused from practice, but their absences were standard "recovery days," the team explained, and both players will be ready to go Wednesday.
Though Chandler's return to the court will be a welcome sight for the Knicks (25-22), it does pose a challenge for D'Antoni. With rookie Timofey Mozgov, who played nearly 40 minutes in Sunday's win over Detroit, showing promise, the coach must figure out who to sit. Asked how he could justify keeping Mozgov off the floor, D'Antonio said, "I don't think you do."
The starting lineup is expected to be the same as in Sunday's win over Detroit: Stoudemire, Ronny Turiaf, Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields and Raymond Felton. But the coach said he has yet to determine how he'll substitute.
"I don't know yet," D'Antoni said. "We'll figure it out. It might be game to game. It might be some matchups. Wilson obviously is not going to be able to play his full [regimen] of minutes so there's minutes left over from him . . . It really comes down to who plays well. If they play well, they're going to play."
The 32-15 Mavericks bring a four-game winning streak into the Garden. D'Antoni praised the play of veterans Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion but seemed most impressed by the resurgence of 7-1 center Tyson Chandler.
"Tyson Chandler is back healthy and when he's healthy, he's one of the better centers in the league," D'Antoni said of the 10-year veteran.
Fields in Rookie Challenge
Landry Fields, the Nets' Derrick Favors, the Kings' Tyreke Evans and the Clippers' Blake Griffin lead a group of 18 players selected for the Rookie Challenge. The squads for the game pitting rookies against second-year players will play Feb. 18 in Los Angeles ahead of the All-Star Game.
With AP
