After three games on the sideline dealing with an ankle injury, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is hoping to play Thursday and is probable to get the start when the Knicks take on the Spurs in San Antonio.
ESPN reports that Anthony returned to practice on Monday and began running for the first time since sustaining the injury on Dec. 23 against the Orlando Magic. Anthony expects to feel some pain when he continues playing.
"Still some swelling in there, still some tenderness," Anthony said after Monday's practice, according to ESPN. "Eventually I'll have to play with a little bit of tenderness, a little bit of pain here and there."
While Anthony may be back, the Knicks announced that Metta World Peace (knee) and Pablo Prigioni (toe) will be out against the Spurs while Raymond Felton (groin) remains doubtful. Felton and Prigioni are not expected to play during the Knicks' three-game road trip that starts tonight in San Antonio and continues in Houston against the Rockets and Dallas against the Mavericks, ESPN reports.
The Knicks have lost three games in a row without Anthony and will hope to get him back to end the skid tonight. Anthony averages 26.8 points per game this season, which is the third highest in the NBA while he also averages 8.8 rebounds.
The Knicks enter Thursday's contest at 9-21 and are desperate to turn things around.
"I definitely hate sitting out watching the games," Anthony said Monday via ESPN. "I'm trying to do what I have to do to get back and do what's best for everybody."
The Knicks are banged up and their record continues to get worse night-by-night, so the team is hopeful that Anthony and the rest of their injured players aren't too far off from returning.
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