Utah Jazz: Knicks’ Anthony says he won’t play tonight

NBA » New York also without Amar’e Stoudemire and Rasheed Wallace

By Steve Luhm

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Mar 18 2013 01:35 pm • Last Updated Mar 20 2013 04:59 pm

The battered and road-weary New York Knicks be without Carmelo Anthony on Monday night, when they end a winless five-game trip against the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena.

Anthony, who has been battling a knee injury, told reporters after New York’s shootaround he would not be playing, although the team officially lists him as questionable.

Tyson Chandler and Kurt Thomas are also questionable for the 8:30 p.m. tip-off. The game will be televised on ESPN and Root Sports.

Chandler has had knee and neck issues while Thomas has a sprained foot. In addition, the Knicks are already without Amar’e Stoudemire (knee) and Rasheed Wallace (fractured finger).

Coach Mike Woodson is hoping for the best but fearing the worst.

"We’re going ahead as if they aren’t going to be here," he said.

If none of the injured players are available, Woodson plans to start Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert and Pablo Prigioni on the perimeter with Kenyon Martin and Chris Copeland up front.

J.R. Smith, who is the Knicks’ most dynamic scorer when Anthony is out of the line-up, will continue to come off the bench, Woodson said.’

The Jazz are injury-free heading into the game against the Knicks, which is critical to their playoff hopes.

Utah is 34-32 and hopes to take advantage of the fact New York is ending an extended trip with a back-to-back game. The shorthanded Knicks lost to the Clippers in Los Angeles on Sunday, 93-80.

"We know they are going to be a physical team tonight," said Jazz center Al Jefferson. "We know they are going to try and end their road trip with a win. So we have to be ready to match their intensity and be physical. If we don’t, we’re going to have problems."

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