Knicks’ Stoudemire to Miss Game 3, Doubtful for Game 4 of Series
Amar’e Stoudemire won’t play for the New York Knicks tomorrow and is doubtful for Game 4 after cutting his left hand while punching a fire extinguisher following a second straight playoff defeat by the Miami Heat.
Stoudemire, New York’s second-leading scorer, had a small muscle in his hand surgically repaired yesterday, the Knicks said in an e-mailed statement.
Stoudemire, 29, cut his hand when he punched a metal and glass box holding the extinguisher at Miami’s AmericanAirlines Arena after the Knicks fell behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven National Basketball Association series.
“Without him, it’s going to make it more difficult,” Knicks center Tyson Chandler told reporters in the locker room after Game 2. “It’s tough. Your emotions run high and split- second decisions can alter things.”
The Knicks host Game 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York tomorrow night, with Game 4 there three days later.
The Knicks have tied an NBA record with 12 straight playoff losses dating to the 2000-01 postseason.
Stoudemire, who scored 18 points in Game 2, apologized on his Twitter account last night.
“We all have done things out of anger that we regret,” Stoudemire wrote. “That makes us human. Bad timing on my part. Sorry guys.”
To contact the reporters on this story: Erik Matuszewski in New York at matuszewski@bloomberg.net; Nancy Kercheval in Washington at nkercheval@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net
Amare Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks
Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images
Amar'e Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks goes to the basket against Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami.
Amar'e Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks goes to the basket against Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami. Photographer: Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images
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