Amar'e Stoudemire will come off the bench when he returns from a left knee injury, sources said.

Stoudemire may start initially because of injuries to Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton, but Mike Woodson is seriously considering playing Stoudemire in a reserve role for the rest of the season.

"It's a fluid situation (because of injuries)," one source said. "But they want him to come off the bench to start."

Stoudemire underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Nov. 1.