Wade questionable for Heat; Anthony definitely out for Knicks

MIAMI — One star from the much-heralded 2003 draft is on the verge of returning. Another is taking a seat.

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony won’t play Friday night against Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena to rest various injuries that have landed him in a horrid shooting slump. However, Miami guard Dwyane Wade, who has missed the past six games due to a sprained right ankle, could return for Friday’s tilt.

“I think he’s very close,” Heat forward LeBron James said of Wade, who is a game-time decision but should be ready to play soon if he can’t go against the Knicks. “He looks good. He looks like he’s about ready to play.”

James, who is also from the 2003 draft class, was disappointed to not have the chance to face his good friend Anthony, who has been battling injuries to his left wrist and right thumb and has a sprained right ankle.

“Well, of course, as a brother to (him), I definitely feel for him,” James said. “You hope things will turn around for him with the injuries, the wrist, thumb, ankle. You definitely don’t want to see those injuries and his team is struggling as well. I think he’ll figure it out. I think his team will figure it out. I hope they don’t do it against us.”

The Knicks, who had high preseason expectations after center Tyson Chandler arrived to join Anthony and Amare Stoudemire on the front line, are just 7-11. Anthony’s health hasn’t helped.

In his past six games, Anthony has shot just 40-of-126, an anemic 31.7 percent. He had one point while shooting 0-of-7 last Tuesday at Charlotte — though the Knicks won that game, 111-78.

“At the end of the day, I have to be smart,” Anthony said. “I was trying to be a superhero. I was trying to hide (the injuries) and fight it but it was only getting worse.”

So it was decided Anthony would sit out against the Heat and again Saturday at Houston. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is hopeful he will be able to return Tuesday against Detroit.

“He just can’t perform the way he needs, the way he wants to,” said D’Antoni, who also said that guard Baron Davis, who is working his way back from a back injury, is still not quite ready to play. “The medical staff decided it best to take the weekend off. … He can’t make a shot and he’s playing through a lot of pain. It’s not going away, and it just kept getting worse. We got to get him 100 percent. If not, it’s crazy to keep going.”

Meanwhile, the Heat are continuing to be cautious with Wade, who was hurt in the fourth quarter of Miami’s Jan. 13 loss in Denver. He has been going through workouts but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wasn’t ready after Friday morning’s shootaround to pronounce him ready.

“He’s been able to do court work now, full-speed conditioning, full-speed drill work, drill work,” Spoelstra said. “He’s been doing that for about a week now.”

Forward Chris Bosh has averaged 26.7 points for the Heat in the six games Wade has been out. And, yes, Bosh is another member of that 2003 draft class.