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Woodson: Knicks' Anthony Has 'Fluid Buildup' In Knee

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson says Carmelo Anthony has "some fluid buildup, which is causing the stiffness" in the All-Star's bothersome right knee.

"Rest will probably be the best thing for him," Woodson said before Wednesday's 87-77 win in Detroit.

Anthony sat out the game against the Pistons. The Knicks don't believe the injury -- which has been bugging Anthony for weeks -- is too serious.

"He's going to have to make that commitment (to rest)," said Woodson. "If he wants to sit down and rest a game or two we'll do that. It's a long season."

Anthony left Monday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers after stumbling and falling near midcourt. He went straight to the locker room and didn't return.

Woodson reiterated that a banged-up Anthony asked out of the game before he took the awkward spill. Some have wondered about Anthony's exit in a game New York was losing big.

"He was hurt. Obviously he was hurting," said Woodson. "He asked me to bring him out and I kind of ignored it because we were down. Probably I should have taken him out, then he took the spill, and then he left the game because he was hurting."

Woodson is leaving it up to Anthony to determine when the knee is ready. General manager Glen Grunwald told WFAN radio Tuesday the All-Star may not be in the lineup Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I'll do whatever he wants to do," said Woodson. "If he tells me he wants to play, I'm going to play him. I'm not going to fight him on that. I'm not going to fight any player who wants to play. ... But if he says, 'Coach, I need to sit out a game or two,' I'm going to grant that. Absolutely."

The Knicks haven't officially released any details of Anthony's MRI. The 28-year-old told reporters after his exit Monday that the results were negative.

How worried are you about the knee? Knicks fans, sound off below...

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