Amare Stoudemire could be back for Knicks later this week

With the New York Knicks battling for playoff position, Amare Stoudemire may return from a back injury this week.

Stoudemire, who’s been dealing with a bulging disk, won’t play Tuesday against the Boston Celtics and or Wednesday against the New Jersey Nets, Newsday’s Al Iannazzone reported via Twitter, but a source told ESPN that the power forward could be on the floor against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday or the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

"It's a possibility," the source said.

Stoudemire has been working out with the team but did not participate in the Knicks’ shootaround on Tuesday, according to Iannazzone.

Stoudemire, as well as point guard Jeremy Lin, have been out the last 11 games, and the Knicks are 7-4 in that stretch. Before Tuesday’s games, New York is 31-29, tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, and two games ahead of the ninth Milwaukee Bucks. The regular season ends a week from Thursday.

Carmelo Anthony has been on fire in Stoudemire’s absence, averaging 33.0 points and shooting 50 percent from the field in the 11-game span. And while the Knicks have lacked a consistent second scoring option, there are questions about how well Anthony and Stoudemire will mesh once Stoudemire is back.