Lingering knee issues finally forced Carmelo Anthony out of the lineup as the New York Knicks star sat out the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Anthony hobbled through 19 minutes in the first half before he asked to be removed at halftime, according to Newsday.
Carmelo Anthony sat out the 2nd half with knee soreness
After attempting to play through knee pain, Anthony sat out the second half on Sunday.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony did not come out of the locker room in the second half. He has been dealing with knee soreness for most of the season, but he's played through the pain for the most part. He missed a game against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 18 before playing heavy minutes in New York's last four games. That included a season-high 46 minutes on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings.
With the Knicks losing and Anthony clearly less than 100 percent, some questioned why he was even playing. According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, Anthony “sounded like someone struggling” with the notion he might have to sit out for an extended period of time. Anthony’s status has essentially been day-to-day for the entire season, depending on how his knee feels each day. According to ESPN, Anthony appeared to aggravate the injury on Sunday before coming out of the lineup.
Ian Begley of ESPN reported friends have suggested he take some time to rest his knee. Surgery could also be an option, although Anthony has previously said that was a last resort.
See More:
