nthony returned to the floor Monday night for the New York Knicks after missing the previous three games with soreness in his right knee. He struggled in a 92-63 loss at Golden State, missing 11 of 15 shots in 34 minutes and finishing with 14 points.

Anthony told reporters in Oakland, Calif., after the game that his knee affected his play.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be 100 percent, to be honest with you, but I will play,” he said.

Anthony has been dealing with stiffness in the back of his right knee for several weeks due to a buildup of fluid. An MRI taken in February revealed no structural damage. The Knicks’ medical staff had hoped that rest would help the fluid dissipate.

Anthony, the NBA’s second-leading scorer, sat out for six days after aggravating the injury on March 4 against Cleveland but still feels discomfort. He told reporters on Monday that he hasn’t received a definitive diagnosis.

“Nobody can really give me an exact answer on it,” said Anthony, who returns to Denver on Wednesday for the first time since the Nuggets traded him to the Knicks in 2012. “There’s no pain, no ligament damage or anything like that. There’s just some fluid in the back of the knee that’s preventing me from hyperextending my knee sometimes.”

Anthony’s isn’t the only health issue that the Knicks (38-23) are trying to get a handle on. The team announced that power forward Amar’e Stoudemire underwent right knee surgery to remove debris on Monday and is is expected to miss approximately six weeks.

Stoudemire’s absence makes Anthony’s health all the more important for the Knicks. New York is tied with Indiana for second place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks have four games remaining on their current, season-high five-game road trip.

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Dallas At Brooklyn
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, March 1, 2013
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Southwest (Dallas), YES (Brooklyn)
PREDICTION: Nets 97, Mavericks 92

Oddsmakers currently have the Nets listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Mavericks, while the game’s total is sitting at 194.

Forward Dirk Nowitzki struggled in the loss against Memphis with just 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting. The poor outing followed Nowitzki’s best three-game stretch of the season in which he averaged 25.3 points and 13.3 rebounds. Nowitzki has closed in on his previous All-Star form after struggling earlier in the season upon returning from preseason knee surgery. He is averaging 16 points and 6.6 rebounds. The Mavericks tallied just 46 points over the final three quarters against Memphis after putting 38 on the board in the opening quarter.

Dallas:
Team record: 25-32 SU, 33-24 ATS
Current streak: lost 3 straight games.

is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Brooklyn
is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn
is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games on the road

When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Houston are 7-3
After playing Memphis are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4

Last time out for Dallas, they were a 90-84 loser as they battled the Grizzlies on the road. The Mavericks covered in the match as a 7.5-point underdog, while 174 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Point guard Deron Williams is playing well despite struggling with inflammation in both ankles. Williams matched his season high with 33 points in Tuesday’s win over the Hornets as he scored Brooklyn’s final 11 points. Williams was encouraged by his decisive closing stretch. “It’s something I’ve kind of struggled with this year and I was really successful at it most of my career,” said Williams, “so it feels good to be able to finally have a game like that.” Williams is averaging 23.8 points over the last four games to raise his season average to 17.3.

The Nets were a 101-97 winner in their most recent outing on the road against the Hornets. They covered the 3-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (198) made winners of OVER bettors.

Brooklyn:
Team record: 34-24 SU, 26-30-2 ATS

is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games at home
is 8-15 ATS in its last 23 games when playing Dallas
is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home

When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Chicago are 3-7
After playing New Orleans are 2-8
After a win are 5-5

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However, a trade is unlikely because of Rondo’s injury, a torn left ACL, sources tell Broussard.

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said Tuesday that he’s not sure any deals would get the Celtics what they need and give another team what it wants. Ainge, in fact, was not optimistic he would get any moves done before the 3 p.m. ET Thursday deadline.

“It looks unlikely that anything will be done, other than possibly some players we will add to our roster,” Ainge said. “Not sure yet of what that will be.

“There’s been a lot of conversation around the league, and we’ve been very busy. Trades are very challenging to make, and then on top of that we like our guys. I like watching this team play, I like the personality of our team. We just need to find a way to give them the best chance to win with the resources we have.”

There were reports before the All-Star break that the Lakers and Celtics had preliminary talks to trade Rondo to the Lakers for center Dwight Howard, but Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak denied that report to Broussard, saying he hadn’t talked to Ainge and reiterating that the Lakers do not plan on trading Howard.

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Spoelstra hinted two weeks ago that he would remain loyal to the Heat regarding any decisions he had to make in his first assignment as an All-Star coach.

Bosh will replace injured guard Rajon Rondo, who is recovering from season-ending knee surgery

All-Star starters are chosen through fan voting.

Bosh will start alongside Heat teammates Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, with Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett.

There was a possibility that Spoelstra would have taken a conventional approach by replacing Rondo with another guard, with Kyrie Irving being a popular alternative.

But Spoelstra announced his decision to the Heat’s team-run website Friday about an hour before he was set to meet with reporters for the scheduled All-Star media availability for players and coaches.

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Griffin recently returned to Washington, where he spent some time rehabbing. Those who know him insist he is a physical freak, not unlike Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who was able to rush for 2,097 yards and win the MVP award the season after undergoing major knee surgery.

The Redskins know there still is a long way to go, and they’re hardly going to rush Griffin. But they also know that based on what they’ve seen so far, it is well within the realm of possibility that Griffin will be the team’s starting quarterback in Week 1.

Griffin won The Associated Press 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award after setting the NFL record for best passer rating by a rookie quarterback and leading Washington to its first NFC East title in 13 years.

Griffin, who underwent surgery last month to repair a torn ACL and LCL suffered in the Redskins’ wild-card playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, said at the NFL’s awards ceremony earlier this month: “It’s truly a blessing to be up there — to be able to stand, first and foremost.”

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After releasing linebacker Michael Boley on Tuesday, the Giants cut their veteran starting running back and the versatile Canty as they try to create more cap space while also moving in a different direction following a 9-7 season that finished with no playoffs for the 2011 Super Bowl champs. The Giants could release more veterans before next month’s free agency period begins.

“I saw it coming because of the money,” Bradshaw told ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “Everything is about money I guess, so yes I was expecting it. I’m not discouraged at all. I’m just looking towards getting healthy and working with somebody else. That is all I can do. The Giants fans will always be remembered and always be loved. This is where I started and I just want to thank everybody for their support. Hopefully I’ll be back soon.”

Bradshaw, 26, rushed for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns as the team’s primary running back. However, he has had a history of battling through feet and ankle injuries and recently had surgery to have a screw replaced in his right foot, keeping him out for another eight weeks. Bradshaw has missed 12 games in his six seasons with the Giants but helped them win two Super Bowls during his New York tenure.

The Giants were projected to be $4.7 million over the salary cap for 2013 by NFL senior writer John Clayton and the team has to create space to try to keep free agents like left tackle Will Beatty and restricted free agents like Victor Cruz, Stevie Brown and Andre Brown.

Bradshaw was uncertain about his future toward the end of the season. The Giants’ 2012 first-round pick David Wilson emerged toward the end of the season and Andre Brown scored eight touchdowns this past season before breaking his leg.

Canty was due to make $6.25 million in base salary this upcoming season. He played in just nine games this past season after having knee surgery in the offseason.

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Nowitzki plans to play Monday night against the defending Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, although he isn’t completely healthy.

“I’ll give it a go tonight,” Nowitzki said. “It’s going to be a little tight, I guess, but if I wait until this is all gone, we might sit out another two weeks. I don’t know how a pulled muscle heals, so I’ll just try to give it a go. If it’s just tight, then it’s fine.

“As long as it doesn’t grab me and doesn’t get worse during the game, that’s the major key. I’m going to try to get nice and loose and keep it loose during the game and try to give it a go.”

After missing the first 27 games while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, Nowitzki struggled, by his standards, while working his way back into game shape.

He is averaging 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 42.5 percent from the floor, all numbers that are the 11-time All-Star’s lowest since his rookie season in 1998-99.

However, the 34-year-old Nowitzki had been encouraged by the progress he had made recently before this injury, which is not related to his knee. He injured the right adductor, a muscle in the inner thigh, late in Tuesday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, when he had 12 of his season-high 26 points in the fourth quarter.

Nowitzki acknowledged he’s concerned the muscle pull, the first of his 15-year career, could disrupt his recent progress.

“It stinks, no question about it,” Nowitzki said. “But I’m past the stage of crying or whatever. You’ve got to just fight through it and take the punches as they come and roll with it. Obviously, it was bad timing.”

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Sources told ESPN.com that multiple teams already have expressed interest in signing Oden before the end of this season to a multiyear deal that would allow him to continue his rehab until he can get back on the court in training camp in the fall.

The Miami Heat are at the front of the line in pursuing Oden, two sources said, and have been keeping tabs as he recovers while also taking classes at Ohio State.

The Heat potentially could have two roster spots available this season, one of which Oden, formerly of the Portland Trail Blazers, could slide into as he continues to rehab. Team president Pat Riley is known to like gambling on long shots, especially when it comes to big men.

One concern for the Heat, though, is they already are committed to more than $80 million in salaries for next season and likely will have a final payroll coming close to $90 million in a year when the new, more harsh luxury tax kicks in. Oden potentially would be a costly gamble even on a minimum-level contract. The Heat are also currently about $14 million over the luxury-tax line for this season.

Oden had his third microfracture surgery, this one in his left knee, in February 2012. He has not played since Dec. 5, 2009, and appeared in just 82 games with the Blazers while suffering from a series of knee injuries.

In attempting another comeback, Oden’s camp is planning to take a highly conservative approach. So the plan is for him to sit out the rest of this season and summer league to make sure he allows himself the best chance of finally getting healthy.

The Heat, who have been on the lookout for a center for three years, were interested in Oden before the start of last season, when he was a restricted free agent. But he ended up taking a one-year, $8.9 million deal with the Blazers. After a setback in his recovery, the contract was reduced to $1.5 million, and he later had the microfracture procedure.

Oden averaged 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in parts of two seasons in Portland.

The post Greg Oden plans to return appeared first on IdealCapper.

Neither Woodson nor Stoudemire termed the latest development a “setback” in Stoudemire’s attempt to return from Oct. 31 left knee surgery.

“He was probably a little sore and that’s probably the reason for (limiting his minutes). So I’ve got to be open-minded to that and do what’s asked. That’s the right thing to do,” Woodson said after practice Wednesday.

The coach added that he “shouldn’t have” played Stoudemire 28 minutes in the Knicks’ 102-96 loss to the Celtics. That was a season-high for Stoudemire, who has played four games since coming back from the debridement procedure.

Stoudemire admitted that he felt “a little bit sore” after the Boston game but, like Woodson, downplayed the notion that he has suffered a setback.

“I feel great,” said Stoudemire, who’s averaging 10 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20 minutes through four games. “I just think we’re taking a precautionary route. Just making sure that everything [continues] to improve. I think that’s about it, really. No setbacks, no re-injury, anything like that. I feel great.”

Stoudemire played between 17 and 21 minutes in his first three games and logged 28 against Boston, when he was on the floor for most of the fourth quarter.

Woodson said Stoudemire would play between 20 and 23 minutes Thursday at Indiana. He will come off the bench for the Knicks (23-11), just as he’s done in the previous four games. Stoudemire’s status for Friday’s game against Chicago is uncertain because it’s the second game of a back-to-back.

“This is a long haul, guys. I’m not going to sit here and jeopardize STAT’s situation,” Woodson said. “I feel good about what we have with [Marcus] Camby and Kurt [Thomas] and if doctors are saying that we have to limit him, then that’s what we have to do.”

Any issue regarding Stoudemire’s knee is treated with caution because he has a history of knee ailments. He had microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2005. He recovered well from that procedure, but the knee is still considered vulnerable. He also has had a procedure on his right knee.

Most teams were scared off by Stoudemire’s history of knee ailments during summer 2010, when he was a free agent. The Knicks signed the former Phoenix Suns player to a five-year, $100 million contract, but the deal was uninsured because of the condition of Stoudemire’s knees.

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Nicolas Batum scored 26 points, Damian Lillard had 21 points, six assists and five rebounds, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Portland.

Stoudemire finished with six points on 3-of-8 shooting and one rebound in 17 minutes off the bench in his return from knee surgery. Anthony shot 14 of 24 and nearly led the Knicks back from 19 points down after missing two games with a knee injury, but the Trail Blazers had too many options.

J.J. Hickson scored all of his 18 points in the first half as Portland won for the third time in four games.

Anthony had missed the previous two games with a hyperextended left knee. The Knicks are still without point guard Raymond Felton because of a broken pinky finger and struggled to get their offense going until too late, losing for the third time in four games.

J.R. Smith had 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks.

Stoudemire had surgery on Oct. 31 to clean up tissue in his left knee and decided to play after going through a couple of practices this week, though adding he wasn’t yet 100 percent. The former All-Star who has battled injuries in recent years was clearly rusty but showed he can still finish at the rim when set up properly.

Coach Mike Woodson wouldn’t say how long Stoudemire would remain a reserve. Stoudemire and Anthony have struggled to play together and the Knicks have a losing record when both play, but Woodson has said the Knicks need both of them on the floor to have a shot at a championship.

Stoudemire was already done for the night when the Knicks made a late run, cutting an 11-point deficit with 3:16 remaining to 100-97 on Anthony’s 3-pointer with 57 seconds left. Lillard answered with a 3-pointer, but the Knicks got it right back down to three again when Anthony converted a three-point play with 29 seconds to go.

The Knicks forced a jump ball and Smith won it, but Anthony missed a 3-pointer. Wesley Matthews, back after missing four straight games with an injured left hip, made two free throws with 13 seconds left to close the scoring.

Stoudemire got a standing ovation when he headed to the scorer’s table before checking in with 3:31 remaining in the first quarter. The Knicks went right to him in the post, but he stepped on the baseline while making his move.

The cheers turned to boos, not heard often this season during the Knicks’ 12-2 start at home, just a few minutes later.

Portland used an 11-0 run in the second quarter to extend a seven-point lead to 43-25 on Mathews’ basket with 7:20 remaining. The lead was 19 when Stoudemire returned with 5:36 left and the Knicks scored seven straight points, but the Blazers regrouped and got it back to 18 after consecutive baskets by Hickson before Stoudemire sat down again.

It was 58-47 at halftime after Anthony banked in a 3-pointer on a broken play with 0.1 seconds left.

The Knicks looked better offensively when Stoudemire returned with 5:06 left in the third quarter and Portland leading by six. He got his first basket when Anthony found him inside with 3:11 left, and he showed his old explosive finishing ability with a dunk later in the period, but the Knicks couldn’t close much of the gap because of their poor defense on Batum. The Frenchman scored 13 points and made three 3-pointers in the quarter, giving the Blazers a 78-71 advantage.

Game notes

The Knicks fell to 16-7 overall and 13-3 at home on New Year’s Day. The record by an opponent for points against the Knicks on Jan. 1 is held by Woodson, who scored 36 for the Clippers in 1988. … This was the Blazers’ first trip to New York since last March 14, when the Knicks won 121-79 hours after Mike D’Antoni resigned and Woodson became the interim coach. Blazers coach Nate McMillan was fired the next day.

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