Carmelo Anthony aggravates knee

— -- MIAMI -- New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony aggravated a left knee injury in Monday's loss to the Miami Heat and was uncertain whether the setback would jeopardize his status for Sunday's All-Star Game.

Anthony left Monday's game midway through the fourth quarter after he extended his knee to plant for a turnaround jumper.

Anthony also landed awkwardly after making the shot from the corner and left the 109-95 defeat with 7:30 remaining.

The Knicks initially said Anthony was taken back to the locker room to have the knee retaped but later confirmed he would not return after New York's deficit reached double figures in the final minutes.

"I think I just irritated it when I tried to plant -- and I went down too low," Anthony said. "It was too much pressure on that one leg. I felt it when I came back [to the locker room], and it was just too sore when I came back here."

Anthony said initial tests taken in the locker room ruled out any structural damage to the knee, but the Knicks said he would be re-evaluated Tuesday in Orlando before Wednesday's game against the Magic.

The Knicks' leading scorer and franchise player had been dealing with soreness in the left knee for months and recently contemplated sitting out the remainder of the season.

The Knicks have been cautious with Anthony by reducing his minutes and requiring the 12-year veteran to sit out some games during loaded stretches in the schedule, such as skipping the second night of a back-to-back set of games.

Anthony told reporters last month that knee surgery is inevitable but that he was hoping to hold off until after the All-Star break.

Anthony sat out Saturday's loss to Golden State but opened Monday's game against the Heat with one of his best starts of the season. He made his first five shots and scored 14 of his team-high 26 points in the first quarter.

He also made his final shot and finished 9-of-20 from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, in addition to four assists, four rebounds and two steals in 32 minutes.

But Anthony also said that playing through the knee soreness is only growing more frustrating and that he might reconsider whether he needs to push forward.

"It's little things that I'm doing out there on the court," Anthony said. "I'm restricted, I'm not getting that power or that bounce, and then to do something like I did today, I think I'm getting closer to that point. I think due to the lack of movement, the lack of explosiveness I have right now -- I'm just trying to compensate and try to figure it out as it goes along."

Anthony has missed 12 games this season due to various injuries, including the knee soreness, but is averaging 24.1 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Knicks (10-42), who have the NBA's worst record. Anthony was voted a starter for the East in Sunday's All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden but said it's too soon to know how he'll feel for that game.

Asked Monday whether he already would have had a procedure performed on the knee were the All-Star Game not being played in New York this season, Anthony responded: "Maybe."

He also said the combination of the pain and losing have been too much to overcome at times.

"I'm not thinking about the All-Star at this point," Anthony said. "As long as I can go to Orlando [on Tuesday] and kind of don't feel nothing or no soreness, I'll see what happens. It's frustrating, not being able to be yourself and fighting through it."