Jeremy Lin to return Wednesday? Don’t count on it, coach says

Jeremy Lin has already saved the New York Knicks’ season once this season, but it appears unlikely that he will have the opportunity to do it again Wednesday night in a possible elimination game against the Miami Heat.

Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson said he is “not counting on” Lin to return to action for Game 5 in the opening-round playoff series just over five weeks after surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. Initially, the team said it expected Lin would miss six weeks while recovering from the procedure.

“I’d love to have Jeremy out there on the floor in uniform,” Woodson said during a conference call Monday. “Don’t get me wrong, guys. Jeremy is a big piece of our team. But if the doctors say, ‘Mike, we’re taking a chance. He shouldn’t be out there playing,’ I can’t be that selfish and say, ‘Son, put on a uniform and play.’ I mean, I just can’t do that.”

Lin has been working out lately, which provided hope for Knicks fans who have seen their team fall into a 3-1 hole against the Heat. But the star point guard ruled himself out of Games 3 and 4 after experiencing some discomfort in his knee following one of his workouts.

The situation for the Knicks became more dire when point guard Baron Davis dislocated his right kneecap during Sunday’s 89-87 victory over Miami. Woodson said Lin is not in game shape but will work out again Monday before a decision is made by the team’s medical staff, in consultation with Lin.

Woodson said he’s expecting to start Mike Bibby on Wednesday, with Toney Douglas and J.R. Smith likely to get some playing time at point guard as well.

Lin became an overnight sensation back in February when he sparked the Knicks to a seven-game winning streak that included his 38-point, seven-assist performance against the Lakers.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jeremy Lin to return Wednesday? Don’t count on it, coach says