As expected, Chauncey Billups remains out of commission as the Knicks take the floor Sunday afternoon for an elimination game against the Celtics. Amare Stoudemire, however, will play.
Billups is out with a strained left knee suffered in Game 1 in Boston a week ago. Stoudemire has battled back spasms ever since Tuesday’s Game 2, but he’s been playing hurt. That will continue today, as the Knicks’ forward maintains he’s not 100 percent but wants to compete anyway.
Stoudemire has been largely ineffective since the back pain set in. He sat out the second half Tuesday, recording only four points on 2-of-9 shooting in the first half, and he finished with seven points on 2-of-8 in Friday’s Game 3.
In other Knicks news, Mike D’Antoni will continue starting Landry Fields at shooting guard despite the rookie’s ineffective play in this series. The Stanford alum has averaged 2.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
Here’s the lineup card for C’s-Knicks:
Celtics
Rajon Rondo, PG
Ray Allen, SG
Paul Pierce, SF
Kevin Garnett, PF
Jermaine O’Neal, C
Knicks
Toney Douglas, PG
Landry Fields, SG
Carmelo Anthony, SF
Amare Stoudemire, PF
Ronny Turiaf, C
