Despite being sidelined with back spasms for the second half of Game 2, Amar'e Stoudemire expects to play in Game 3 on Friday.

"I should be ready for Game 3," he said after the game, standing instead of sitting behind the podium at his postgame news conference. "We'll see how it goes [Wednesday] and next day, but I'm pretty sure -- I'm hoping -- I'll be ready Friday."

"He should be OK Friday. ... He just felt a little twinge," coach Mike D'Antoni said.