Lin could return to Knicks in first round of playoffs
MIAMI — Linsanity may hit the first round.
Jeremy Lin, out nearly a month following left knee surgery, may return against the Heat after all, depending on how far the Knicks can extend the opening-round series after yesterday’s devastating 100-67 Game 1 loss.
With Iman Shumpert out six to eight months after tearing his left ACL and meniscus yesterday and Baron Davis’ back ailing, Lin’s rehab schedule is being stepped up, though there are no guarantees.
Lin went through intense 1-on-1 drills filled with cutting against assistant coach Kenny Atkinson before the game. The Knicks are now somewhat hopeful — if Lin feels well in the next few days — the second-year point-guard sensation could return if the first-round series is extended. That would beat the six-week timetable from his arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Coach Mike Woodson and Lin recently have said not to expect Lin until the second round if the Knicks advance, and Lin had been concerned about coming back and hurting chemistry. But these are desperate times.
Davis played just 17:26 after a solid, 10-point first-quarter. His back didn’t feel right, and he elected to shut it down for the final 21 minutes, saying he couldn’t have returned.
“My back was stiff,’’ Davis said. “Going into halftime, it was just a lot of banging, a collision I think kind of put my back in shock. But I should be all right [for Game 2 tomorrow].
“It was extremely frustrating,’’ Davis added. “That’s all I was saying to the trainers. I was feeling good out there in the first quarter moving well. A lot of banging. I’ve got to play a little smarter.’’
Davis scored the Knicks’ first points on a 3-pointer, made a steal and fast-break dunk and soared down the lane for another dunk in the first quarter. J.R. Smith played some point guard in the second half.
* The Knicks have lost 11 straight playoff games dating to 2001. It’s the second-longest streak in NBA history. ... The last time the Knicks scored as few as 67 points was Game 2 of the 1999 Finals against the Spurs. ... The Knicks tied a franchise playoff high with 27 turnovers. It was their most playoff turnovers since 1991 against Bulls.
* Carmelo Anthony, who was 3-for-15, has shot under 30 percent in four of his past seven playoff games, a stat furnished by the Heat PR staff. ... Amar’e Stoudemire’s 2-of-7 afternoon was his fourth consecutive postseason game in which he shot under 29 percent. But last season against the Celtics he barely could move because of a back injury.
* The Heat were sad for Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose, who suffered a torn ACL yesterday, but their Finals chances just improved dramatically.
“It’s unfortunate the injury that’s happened for him and for that team, but I’m worried about the Knicks,
