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Amar’e Stoudemire Punches Fire Extinguisher Case After Game 2 Loss, Leaves Miami In A Sling

by Eric Goldschein | 11:46 pm, April 30th, 2012

As if things couldn’t get any worse for the beleaguered Knicks, they may be without starting forward Amar’e Stoudemire for Game 3, and perhaps the rest of the season. The frustrated big man punched a glass fire extinguisher case after tonight’s loss, reportedly losing a lot of blood and requiring bandages and a sling in the process.

In what could go down as one of the stupidest moments in New York Knicks history, Stoudemire is said to have lacerated his hand when he punched the glass case, leaving blood all over the locker room floor.

Here’s how the story unfolded, via NY Daily News beat writer Frank Isola’s Twitter feed, @FisolaNYDN (earliest tweet is on the bottom):

That’s right — paramedics had to rush to the scene to save Stoudemire’s hand, stitching him up and putting his arm in a sling. Here’s TNT’s report on the matter:

If this went down as reported (and there’s no reason to believe it didn’t), Stoudemire may have cost the Knicks any real chance at making this a series again. And it was a pointless attack (on himself) as well. Putting aside the fact that you should never punch glass (unless there’s a real fire and you need that extinguisher), the Knicks aren’t out of the series yet. Plenty of teams have gone down 2-0 and come back to win four games. Just ask Dwayne Wade and the 2006 Heat.

Plus, Stoudemire didn’t have a bad game. He posted 18 points and seven boards. Why was he so mad? If it’s a lack of touches and shots, as Isola pondered, then there are clearly ways to address that issue without bloodletting.

The Knicks were already down their starting point guard, their best perimeter defender, and two games in the series. Regardless of Melo’s success without Stoudemire in the line up, not having him (along with Tyson Chandler battling the flu and Jared Jeffries dealing with a bum knee) deals a death blow to the Knicks chances of winning this series. Did I say series? I meant even a single game this postseason. Again.