Knicks coach Mike Woodson has been told to reduce Amar'e Stoudemire's minutes for tonight's game against Indiana - and for the next few games as well - to help ease the power forward back from his knee surgery. Stoudemire had played between 17-21 minutes in his first three games back from injury, but during the loss to Boston on Monday night he was played 28-minutes by Woodson. The coach says he will limit STAT's on-court minutes to the 20-23 range.

“I just got word that I needed to back off because I shouldn’t have done that,” Woodson said. “His minutes will still be on a restriction. Probably around the 20-mark range. Somewhere in that area there. No more than 22-23 minutes."

Stoudemire added that, although he felt a little sore after the Celtics game, he did not request to have his minutes cut down.

“It didn’t come from me,” he said. “I don’t feel as if it’s a setback at all. I feel great. I just think we’re taking precautionary routes. We’re just making sure everything remains continuing to improve.”

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