The NBA 2012 Defensive Player of the Year, Tyson Chandler, left the game on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets with what he believes is a sprained knee.
Chandler collided with Nets' forward, Gerald Wallace, early in the game, in the first quarter. According to ESPN, he left the Knicks' locker room at the Nassau Coliseum in crutches.
"It was awkward. My foot was planted when he fell into me. It just torqued my knee outside a little bit. I kind of didn't feel it until I started laying there," said Chandler.
The good news, if there is any good news, is that the Knicks will not play anymore preseason games. They will simply play a few intersquard games before their November 1 season opener against these same Nets.
Coach Mike Woodson is not concerned however, and continues to play it cool. "I'm not one who's going to sit here and panic and complain. It's what it is right now. It's a long season. Whoever's in uniform, that's who I'm going to go out and win with."
The Knicks did not need this issue with a young player. They are already sporting an older group of players on the bench and even Chandler's backups are out. Marcus Camby is out and Rasheed Wallace is not ready for action.
You can't have Kurt Thomas as your full time center since he is 40 years of age.
The Knicks look like they will be starting the 2012 season banged up. J.R. Smith is recovering from an achilles injury and Amar'e Stoudemire is out for some time with an injured knee.
Chandler is set to undergo an MRI on Thursday.
