Greenburgh, NY (Sports Network) - New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire
believes he could be ready for Game 4 of the team's Eastern Conference
quarterfinal series against Miami despite a hand injury that required surgery
on Tuesday.
Stoudemire punched the glass case of a fire extinguisher after New York's loss
in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Monday in Miami. He was treated for a
laceration to his left hand at the arena and underwent a procedure on Tuesday
to repair a small muscle.
"It wasn't as if I was trying to take out the fire extinguisher," Stoudemire
told reporters at the Knicks' practice facility on Wednesday. "I was just
trying to make some noise. It was out of frustration."
Reports have indicated that Stoudemire could miss the remainder of the series,
which the Knicks trail 2-0. He will sit out Game 3 on Thursday at Madison
Square Garden and is expected to be evaluated again prior to Game 4 on Sunday.
"I think there's a great chance I could play on Sunday," a hopeful Stoudemire
added.
The Knicks went 14-5 without Stoudemire in the lineup during the regular
season. He missed most of the final month because of a bulging disc in his
lower back.
The Sports Network