“It makes me feel better that we won,” he said.

Stoudemire, who scored 20 points and collected 10 rebounds, returned after missing Game 3 due to the injury. In the six days between game appearances, Stoudemire had surgery to repair a small muscle in the left hand, stretched and iced the hand and hoped for quick healing. He tried several braces and progressed in practice with padding on it. By Saturday, he practiced in full. He was cleared by the team’s doctors Sunday and Mike Woodson started Stoudemire, who had been listed as “doubtful.”

“He surprised me,” center Tyson Chandler said. “I didn’t think he was going to play. He played and made a huge impact on the game.”

Stoudemire approached his return with an unflinching demeanor. On his first drive to the basket he absorbed a blow from LeBron James, missed the layup but then collected the ball again to finish. He then dunked with the right hand on his next touch, a reminder of the aggression he offers the offense.

“He gave them a spark they needed,” James said.

Foul trouble trapped Stoudemire at times. He picked up his third with 8:24 left in the first half, but again left his imprint on the game early in the third quarter. He drove left again on Miami forward Udonis Haslem, who eventually fouled out. Then, Stoudemire adjusted to the Heat’s pressure, knocking down a baseline jumper and spinning into the lane for a dunk over point guard Mario Chalmers, who fouled him on the play. Stoudemire hit the subsequent free throw.

“He’s a very energetic guy,” Chandler said. “I think he definitely uplifted the team.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/amar-e-stoudemire-returns-badly-cut-left-hand-nets-20-points-10-rebounds-ny-knicks-beat-miami-heat-game-4-first-round-playoff-series-article-1.1073573#ixzz1uDKn0ICJ

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/amar-e-stoudemire-returns-badly-cut-left-hand-nets-20-points-10-rebounds-ny-knicks-beat-miami-heat-game-4-first-round-playoff-series-article-1.1073573#ixzz1uDKcrGeR

To read more: nydailynews.com

Anthony racked up 39 points and hit what turned into the game-winning bucket with 1:40 left that put them up 113-112.

It would come down to one last play with the Hawks inbounding with 3.7 seconds left, still down by the same score. Marvin Williams, at the top of the key, spun on Stoudemire, drove down the lane and went up for a potential game-winning dunk that missed, with Stoudemire guarding him all the way and leaping up to partially block it at the rim. The referees ultimately ruled the dunk wouldn’t have counted anyway as it came .1 seconds late.

The victory kept the Knicks in seventh place and kept their slim hopes alive of moving into the sixth seed.

Anthony and Stoudemire combined for 61 points. Stoudemire, in his second game, got better and better as the game went along and finished with 22 points on 9 of 13 shooting. Landry Fields added 18 points on 7 of 8 shooting.

“Amar’e was phenomenal,” Anthony said. “The way we played off each other. When he had it, he had it. When I had it, I had it.”

Read more here

Out since March 24, Stoudemire went into greater detail about his status and the Knicks in a video he released at the same time.

The Knicks have four games left in the regular season, and barring a complete collapse, they should make the playoffs as either the seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. That means a first-round matchup against Chicago or Miami. Stoudemire says the opponent doesn’t matter in terms of basketball. But he does have a preference when other factors are considered.

“As far as weather and city, I’d rather be in Miami,” he says.

Courtesy of STATTV and ThePostGame.com

Blake has been battling terminal brain cancer. He was diagnosed January 1, 2008 and in November 2011 he decided to stop treatment. He wants to live his life as pain free and without sickness for as long as possible. Typically, with this type of cancer, doctors would expect him to have about six months left.

Blake has always wanted to see New York City. Members of the Lake Wales Community got together to pay for the family to travel and for his wish to be granted. As a surprise for Blake, Amar’e hosted him courtside at MSG and gave him gifts from the Knicks, Steiner Sports and Scholastic Books.

Blake Appleton (9 years old) was joined by Morgan Appleton (10 year old sister), Miranda Appleton (mother) and Jenny Gilbert (teacher who escorted the family on this trip.)

Photos courtesy of: Avi Gerver/MSG Photos

Mike D’Antoni is gone, but Stoudemire, his chief supporter, is back. And Stoudemire vowed he will stay this good.

“I felt great,’’ said Stoudemire. “It’s not going to change. It’s a matter of getting back to my rhythm. This is my game, who I am — an aggressive, explosive player. Always have been. It’s not going to change.’’

During this glorious 5-0 stretch under the helm of interim coach Mike Woodson that has made the Knicks Atlantic Division-title contenders again, Stoudemire has flourished while Carmelo Anthony’s game — at least shooting-wise — has declined.

There have been false alarms before, but Stoudemire is averaging a team-leading 16.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and shooting 57.4 percent during the five-game Woodsanity surge. Just like old times — or at least just like last season.

With the raging-hot Knicks (23-24) facing the Raptors at Air Canada Centre tonight with a chance to get to .500, Stoudemire’s defense has become more ferocious and timely. His block from behind on Elton Brand late in the fourth quarter was arguably the game’s biggest momentum play of the magical win that has them three games out of the division lead.

Asked about his animation in Philadelphia, Stoudemire said: “It was a very, very important game. From a leadership standpoint, I wanted to make sure I was very vocal, leading by example, knowing the magnitude of this game. So I was able to get my message out there.’’

To read more: nypost