Shumpert plays well in return
Iman Shumpert goes to the hoop against the Charlotte Bobcats. (Jan. 4, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Iman Shumpert's second NBA game was a lot like his first. He played really well and then couldn't finish. But at least this time he's not hurt.
Shumpert returned from a four-game absence because of a sprained knee suffered in the season opener to score 18 points in nearly 30 minutes in the Knicks' 118-110 loss to the Bobcats Wednesday night. He made 4 of 6 three-point tries and had five rebounds and three assists.
Mike D'Antoni pushed the rookie hard, even telling him to stay in the game when a tired Shumpert asked out in the third quarter with Toney Douglas in foul trouble. But the coach had to let Shumpert spend the final 3:50 on the bench after his legs cramped up after a collision with Gerald Henderson.
Knicks fans chanted Shumpert's name, begging for him to be put back in the game. But he needed to rest after not playing since Dec. 25.
"I'm just glad I didn't hurt his knee," D'Antoni said. "I could have screwed that up. He just cramped up. Thank goodness."
Amar'e back, too
About 90 minutes before gametime, D'Antoni said Amar'e Stoudemire was "good to go" after two games out with a sprained ankle, and listed him in the starting lineup. But Stoudemire threw a wee bit of drama into matters when he said he needed to test the ankle in warm-ups first.
"If it feels great, then I'm good to go," he said.
Apparently, it did. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck began the festivities with a midcourt countdown to the pregame introductions. Stoudemire was the final Knick announced, as usual. He scored 25 points in 41:22 and said his ankle felt "great" after lengthy postgame treatment.
Trainer's room
D'Antoni said Jared Jeffries (calf) is about a week away. "If he's ready Saturday, we'll probably wait 'til Monday," he said. "We've just got to make sure he doesn't pop it again."
