Knicks will likely be without Jeremy Lin for Sunday's Game 4 (BLOG)

Jeremy Lin was hoping to return from a torn meniscus in his left knee for Game 4 of the Knicks' first-round playoff series with the Miami Heat, but was less optimistic after testing himself on Thursday.

New York's breakout star had been engaging in 3-on-3 drills this week, but apparently his surgically repaired joint hasn't responded too well.

"I haven't been able to load it or jump or explode or drive by somebody the way I want to, so it's going to be longer than that," Lin told the media after scrimmaging at Thursday's morning shootaround, as quoted by ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley.

"It wasn't the worst, it wasn't the best," he continued. "I don't have my full explosiveness."

There's still a chance that Lin could return for Game 5, but to force that issue the Knicks would have to cut into the Heat's 2-0 lead tonight at Madison Square Garden or win on Sunday.


Originally Lin believed he could return for the second round of the
playoffs and it's looking like he won't be ready before then. In all likelihood,
we've probably received our last dose of Linsanity for the 2011-2012 season.

Amar'e Stoudemire said on Wednesday that he believes he can return from a lacerated left hand on Sunday, but that too seems unlikely. He had surgery on Tuesday to repair a small muscle in the hand.

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