Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin Injury Updates: Latest Status for Game vs. Magic

UPDATE (10:30 a.m.): According to Al Iannazzone via Twitter, it's a no-go for Jeremy Lin against Orlando on Wednesday night:

The prognosis is good for Carmelo Anthony, but not so much for Jeremy Lin.

Both New York Knicks stars are currently battling injuries, but Anthony expects to be back in the lineup when the team takes on the Orlando Magic Wednesday night. The status of Lin, who missed Monday's win over Milwaukee with a sore knee, is more uncertain.

While speaking at an event for Steiner Sports on Tuesday night in New York, Lin told the New York Daily News' Peter Botte:

"

It's day-to-day, so we'll see how it goes, but it feels better than [Monday]. ... The guys have been working all season so they'll be ready. We've had guys missing before and have been OK. That's the beauty of depth and we have some. Hopefully now we can show it more than ever.

"

Anthony, who led the Knicks with 28 points and 12 rebounds against the Bucks on Monday, tweaked his groin in the win but insisted on ESPN Radio that he will be available "for sure" on Wednesday.

After kicking off March with a six-game losing streak, the Knicks have rebounded with wins in seven of eight games, and those winning ways must continue if New York's postseason dreams are going to stay alive. The Knicks are currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, two-and-a-half games behind the seventh-place Boston Celtics and two games ahead of the ninth-place Bucks.

The injuries, however, extend beyond Lin and Anthony. Forward Amar'e Stoudemire is sidelined indefinitely due to a bulging disk in his back, while Jared Jeffries is out with a knee ailment.

The Knicks have been able to compensate for the injuries with depth, and that must continue while Stoudemire, Lin and Anthony get completely healthy. Iman Shumpert and Baron Davis have picked up some of Lin's slack for the last few games, particularly against the Bucks on Monday. In 35 minutes, Shumpert tallied three assists, 11 points and a steal on 4-of-8 shooting, while Davis chipped in seven assists and 13 points in 34 minutes.

At the moment, the Knicks are confident this kind of production from bench players will continue, and they are unwilling to consider the consequences if it doesn't, which is the right attitude. As Steve Novak told the New York Daily News:

"

We’ve tried to be as consistent as we can through the whole year knowing there’s going to be injuries because of the schedule.

When we’ve had guys out, it was huge for our team’s growth the way guys responded and played, and just getting the opportunity to be out there more. This is once again one of those times where guys need to step up and fill those roles.

"

For now, Anthony appears to be fine, Lin is on the mend and the Knicks are winning, so there's nothing to worry about. If the injuries continue to be a problem, the team starts sliding and Milwaukee surges, only then it will be time to sound the panic button.