New York, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Knicks will welcome back Amar'e Stoudemire on Tuesday when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden.
Stoudemire is expected to come off the bench after missing the first 30 games of the regular season. He underwent a knee debridement in early November thanks to a ruptured cyst on the back of his left knee and has recently been working out with the Knicks' NBA Development League affiliate.
New York has raced out to an Atlantic Division-best 21 wins despite missing the six-time All-Star forward.
The 6-foot-11 Stoudemire saw his numbers drop in 2011-12, his second season in New York after signing a hefty free agent contact. The 30-year-old totaled 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, roughly four points and one rebound below his career averages.
Carmelo Anthony, the league's second leading scorer at 28.5 points per game, is expected to start against Portland after missing two straight games due to a hyperextended left knee.
