Tyreke Evans will visit Dr. Steve Lombardo to receive a second opinion on his sore left knee.

Evans has been out of the Sacramento Kings' lineup since Dec. 16.

Amar'e Stoudemire participated in his first full practice since mid-October, but isn't sure if he will return on Jan. 1.

Stoudemire said he's not even 80 percent and would like to feel close to 100 percent before he plays.

"It would be great if I could go on Jan. 1," he said. "I can't determine how I feel tomorrow or the following day. If the next two days go well and I continue to improve, then that will be a great day to start playing."

The Knicks' injury woes have caused Stoudemire to want to return earlier.

Tyreke Evans had wanted to return for Sunday's game against the Boston Celtics but decided he wasn't ready during practices and workouts leading up to the contest.

Now, Evans plans to get a second opinion on his injured left knee.

Evans bruised his knee on Nov. 27 and an MRI earlier this month showed no structural damage.

Avery Bradley remains on track to return to the Boston Celtics for their next game on Jan. 2.

The Celtics kept Bradley at home during their current road trip to work out in preparation for his first NBA game in seven months after surgery on both shoulders.

“The biggest thing is now is just trust in our communication defensively,” point guard Rajon Rondo said about the defensive struggles. “With Avery coming back, obviously that will be a better pick-and-roll defender for the guard spot, but it’s not just going to be on Avery. It’s going to be trust from our bigs and our guards, being patient, and playing together.”

Derrick Rose has been doing all non-contact drills in practice but is "not anywhere close to playing" in his rehabilitation from a torn ACL, according to Tom Thibodeau.

"He's right where he's always been," Thibodeau said after Sunday's practice. "Each week he'll do a little bit more, he's doing more basketball stuff but still he's not anywhere close to playing. He's got a long way to go for that. He's doing all the non-contact stuff in practice, none of the contact stuff, but he's doing well overall."

"It's too early," Bulls guard Richard Hamilton said when asked about seeing flashes of Rose's old ability coming back in practice. "Derrick is an unbelievable talent. To see him do stuff that ... (as) a guy coming back that injury is incredible. He's able to move up and down on the floor and things like that, but no contact. Our job is to just hold the fort down and hopefully he'll get healthy soon."

Meyers Leonard injured his right ankle when landing awkwardly jumping for a rebound.

Leonard had X-rays taken on the his ankle after the game and Nicolas Batum told The Oregonian that Leonard told him the results revealed there is no fracture.

Trevor Ariza has missed the past 13 games with a calf injury but is expected to practice with the Washington Wizards this upcoming week.

“He’s coming along good,” Wittman said of Ariza, who strained his left calf in the third quarter of the Wizards’ stunning 105-101 victory over the Miami Heat on Dec. 4. “We’ll see how the next couple of games, go. He’s still got a little tightness in there.”

A.J. Price, who's recovering from a broken hand, is likely at least another week away from basketball-related activities.

Kevin Love said on Saturday that his body has felt as good as it has all season over the past couple days and he’s looking forward to rebounding from his difficult game against the Rockets on Wednesday.

“It’s fun to actually have my body feel good out there,” Love said. “And it has the last couple days.”

Love broke two bones in his right hand before the start of season. He has also suffered from the flu, back pain and a poke in the eye.

“But I have to look at it like 2013 is right around the corner,” Love said. “And every game is a new day, a new time to improve the team, improve myself, and keep pushing through this.”

Brandon Roy has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from knee surgery, according to a source.

Roy had been targeting a return on Saturday.

Roy's new return date is uncertain.

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.