Knicks hope to have Anthony in visit to Spurs

(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Knicks hope to get Carmelo Anthony back on Thursday because they'll need everything they've got to take on the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.

Anthony was listed as probable after sitting out the last three games with an ankle injury.

"Getting there - feeling a lot better," Anthony said after practice earlier in the week. "Each day it's getting better and better, still some things lingering but each day is getting better."

The Knicks dropped all three games during Anthony's absence, including the first of this current four-game road trip, a 115-100 setback in Toronto on Saturday.

Amare Stoudemire paced New York with 23 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Tyson Chandler netted 16 and J.R. Smith totaled 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Knicks dropped their fourth game in the last five.

"We've got to look at ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves whether we're giving a good enough effort to win," said Stoudemire.

Raymond Felton (groin) is expected to miss Thursday's contest and Metta World Peace (knee) and Pablo Prigioni (toe) have both been ruled out.

The Knicks visit Houston and Dallas on the remainder of this trip.

The Spurs have won three straight, highlighted by Tuesday's 113-92 drubbing of the Brooklyn Nets in San Antonio.

Tony Parker scored 18 points to lead six San Antonio players in double figures. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili scored 15 points apiece, while Tiago Splitter and Patty Mills each chipped in with 12 points in the win.

Marco Belinelli finished with 10 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting for San Antonio, which won its sixth straight over Brooklyn and 11th straight at home against the Nets.

The Spurs' lead was 30 heading into the final quarter.

"Certainly, when you have a (big) lead, it's probably a little bit tougher to focus, but I feel we did that pretty well," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

San Antonio hosts the Los Angeles Clippers in a big Western Conference showdown on Saturday.

The Spurs destroyed the Knicks, 120-89, in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 10. New York won both meetings last season, although the Spurs are 10-2 in their last 12 at home against the Knicks.