Knicks' Amare Stoudemire Won't Return Before April 13

Amare Stoudemire is still working to recover from the bulging disc in his lower back and return to the New York Knicks, but the timetable isn't looking good for the veteran big man.

Originally the projection was 2-4 weeks from when Stoudemire suffered the injury, on March 24, but according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, the Knicks have said it's now 2-4 weeks from his recent epidural shot. The earliest Stoudemire could possibly return is April 13, when the Knicks play the Washington Wizards.

"It's still day-to-day," Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson said. "You're talking 2-4 weeks maybe, if that. I keep saying day-to-day in hopes that he might come back. After taking the shot, they're still saying 2-4 weeks. All I can do is wait."

Stoudemire has missed the last five games with the injury -- the Knicks are 3-2 over that stretch, keeping their grip on eighth place in the Eastern Conference at 27-27 overall.