Carmelo Anthony Injury: Updates on Knicks Star's Back and Return
Carmelo Anthony injured his back against the Houston Rockets on Monday. He'was in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Miami.
Continue for updates.
Sunday, Nov. 30
Anthony to Start vs. Heat
The New York Knicks have confirmed Carmelo Anthony's status for tonight's game against the Miami Heat:
Anthony Listed As Questionable For Heat Game
Al Iannazzone of Newsday reported the latest on Carmelo Anthony's status for Sunday's game vs. Miami:
Friday, Nov. 28
Melo Out vs. Thunder, Unsure of Status for Sunday
Al Iannazzone of Newsday has an update on Carmelo's status for Friday:
Thursday, Nov. 27
Melo Doubtful vs. Thunder
ESPN's Ian Begley has an update on Carmelo Anthony's status for Friday's game.
"The team has listed forward Carmelo Anthony as doubtful for Friday's game due to back spasms.
Anthony said on Wednesday that he remained "stiff" and "sore" due to the spasms, which surfaced on Monday night late in the first half of the Knicks' loss to the Houston Rockets.
As of Wednesday night, the team's medical staff had not given Anthony a specific timetable for his return.
"They said these things are hard to gauge -- I just don't know how long I'll be out," Anthony said Wednesday night through a team spokesman.
"
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Melo Out vs. Mavericks
Carmelo Anthony is out tonight according to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, who also confirms his replacement:
The Knicks pass along Anthony's take on how the injury occurred:
Marc Berman of the New York Post provides additional comments from Anthony:
Begley and the Knicks have more from Anthony:
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Anthony Did Not Practice, Listed As Doubtful
The New York Knicks updated Carmelo Anthony's status following his back injury vs. Houston:
Monday, Nov. 24
Anthony Injures Back vs. Rockets
Things went from bad to worse for the New York Knicks. In the midst of a horrible season, now the team has to deal with an injury to Carmelo Anthony.
According to the Knicks PR Twitter account, Anthony suffered an injury to his back on Monday against the Houston Rockets:
"Carmelo Anthony has back spasms. He is questionable to return.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) November 25, 2014"
After the game, Tina Cervasio of Fox 5 in New York provided an update:
Even without Anthony, it's hard to imagine the Knicks being much worse than they have been up to this point. The roster, being built by Phil Jackson, is still under construction. First-year head coach Derek Fisher is working to implement the triangle offense, despite not having the players to run it.
Anthony, not surprisingly, is one of the few bright spots for New York. The 30-year-old superstar is shooting the ball as well as he has since joining the Knicks, and he's gotten more efficient with his shot selection.
Despite his success, Anthony hasn't been completely healthy since the second game of the year against Cleveland. He told reporters on Nov. 18 that his left knee is causing problems, via Marc Berma of the New York Post.
“It’s been sore since maybe the Cleveland game,’’ Anthony said. “I’ve been trying to go through it and play through it. I try not to think about it. Some days are better than others.’’
Anthony was able to fight through it. Berman noted on Twitter that the All-Star forward didn't appear on the injury report for the Nov. 19 game against Minnesota:
Unfortunately for the Knicks, Anthony's ailments have cropped up again. He's been relatively durable, appearing in at least 67 games each of the past two years and never playing in fewer than 65 games in a full 82-game season.
For better or worse, the Knicks will go as far as Anthony takes them in 2014. He re-signed with them over the summer to be the leader of this group and wait for Jackson's plan to come full circle. It was always going to take time, though it may feel like progress isn't being made as Anthony isn't at 100 percent.
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