Carmelo Anthony Down Due to Injury, New York Knicks Crippled
New York Knicks player Carmelo Anthony has suffered another injury during their game against the Houston Rockets – which they lost – and is now listed as doubtful for the rest of their games this week. Back spasms had forced the 30-year old player from the court and into the locker room Monday and was not present during the practice the following day.
During the Knicks' practice that day, Anthony had been recovering at his team hotel after making a visit to a Houston-area doctor in order to receive some pain medications. A spokesman for the Knicks had said that it was doubtful Anthony would be able to play against the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday.
"As far as I'm aware, back spasms aren't really something that you can push or rush. Until you can actually play without being in spasms, there isn't really anything you can do. So hopefully, that will be soon," head coach Derek Fisher said.
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Back spasms though are not that uncommon in the NBA as chief of spine surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan Andrew Hecht says. The spasms usually originate in the muscles and can be treated with physical therapy, medication, and application of heat on the area.
"95 percent of people who have the garden-variety muscle spasms from sprains or strains, so to speak, are usually better in three to four weeks," Hecht said.
The cause for Anthony's back spasms are unknown but it is imperative that the team looks for a way to make up for the lost points which Anthony could be making per game. "We just have to figure out a way to make up for that 27, 28 points a game. And his presence – I think that's the biggest part," J.R. Smith said.
