NEW YORK (AP) — Knicks forward Kenyon Martin was out Saturday with a strained abdominal muscle, though Amare Stoudemire was somewhat surprisingly available to play against Atlanta.
Martin was hurt Friday in a loss at Boston. Coach Mike Woodson said the medical staff hasn’t finished evaluating the extent of Martin’s injury, but thought Martin could be out a little while.
Stoudemire, whose minutes were restricted earlier this season coming off his third knee surgery in a year, said Friday he thought the medical staff would want him to sit out Saturday, the Knicks’ fourth game in five nights. But he said before Saturday’s game he felt great and wanted to play to help the Knicks, who are without Martin, Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton.
Stoudemire ended up needing surgery last season after his workload increased, and Woodson acknowledged that he probably wouldn’t play Saturday if the Knicks were 15-5. But they entered 6-16, and Stoudemire said he had “faith” he would be fine this time.
