GREENBURGH, N.Y. — James White will get the start at shooting guard tonight against the Orlando Magic as Jason Kidd will sit with a sore lower back.
“We got enough talented guys that everybody can step up and fill guys’ spots,” White said Wednesday after shootarond. “That’s what we’ve been doing all year. Guys have been out, Melo’s been out, Raymond’s been out, so guys just gotta step up and play a little better.”
White will start alongside Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler.
“I’m starting him because I think he defends, I think he can make a shot,” coach Mike Woodson said. “He’s athletic enough to switch and do different things defensively. That’s why he’s starting.”
Kidd, who has already missed four games with lower back spasms, sat the second half of Sunday’s win over Atlanta and was originally listed as probable for tonight.
“Just getting some treatment, a little sore today,” Woodson said. “He’s not going to play tonight though.”
He added: “We’ll see how he feels [Thursday] and he’ll probably play Friday.”
Woodson said Kidd hasn’t undergone any tests and is “just sore.” Woodson also said he’s unclear how long Kidd, 39, will be out.
“He’s logged a lot of minutes since Raymond’s gone down,” Woodson said. “Now Raymond’s back, we could be a little more cautious, I think. He says he a little sore, then I gotta be open-minded to that and rest him and welcome him back when he’s ready to come back.”
He added: “Any injury is a concern, not just your back, your knees, your ankles, your wrists, your arm. All injuries are a concern. If he had to play today, he would play, so that’s a plus.”
WOODSON COULD COACH IN ALL-STAR GAME
Woodson could potentially coach the Eastern All-Stars in the All-Star Game in Houston if the Knicks have a better record than the Miami Heat come Feb. 3.
As of today, the Knicks (27-15) are 1 1/2 games back of Miami (28-13) for the East’s best record.
“I mean it’s dangling out there, and if it happens, it happens,” Woodson said. “If not, I’m just going to go and rest and think basketball and get ready for the final stretch. That’s what’s it’s all about.”
Told by a reporter that he could play LeBron James the whole game to tire him out, Woodson laughed and said, “I probably would.”
FREE THROWS
Woodson said Rasheed Wallace is “still rehabbing. We’ll get through this week and see where we are next week with it and just go from there.” Woodson had said on Sunday that it was possible Wallace — who has been out seven weeks with a stress reaction in his left foot — could practice this week.
On Tuesday, he said it was possible both Wallace and Marcus Camby (Plantar fasciitis) could be out until after the All-Star break.
