Carmelo Anthony will reportedly play Friday in Toronto

The Knicks play the Nets in Brooklyn on April 15 in a final playoff push for the No. 8 seed. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Despite being far from 100 percent, Carmelo Anthony will give it a go on Friday as the Knicks' proverbial leader looks to lead New York to the No. 8 seed in the east amid a tight race for the final spot with the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Anthony's status had previously been in doubt after the seven-time All-Star missed practice on Wednesday because of continued issues with his sore shoulder.

The news comes from Newsday's Al Iannazzone, citing information directly from the Knicks. He added that there was no practice on Thursday, presumably to give a roster of banged-up veterans an opportunity to rest and rehab ahead of their crucial game on the road in Toronto on Friday night. The Knicks get the Raptors one last time after Friday, a home game on April 16 as their season finale. In between, the Knicks host the Chicago Bulls at home on Sunday and then play the crosstown rival Nets in Brooklyn on April 15.

Anthony has been battling various injuries during a season in which he's logged heavy minutes and often played out of position to shoulder a load for another banged-up, wildly inconsistent Knicks team.

The Knicks are currently 33-45 and remain ahead of the Cavs (32-47) for the final spot in the east, held by the Hawks (35-43).  Atlanta has four games remaining: the Nets, Heat, Bobcats and Bucks; the Cavs have three games left on their schedule: Bucks, Celtics and Nets.

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