Gallo to the rescue?

via NYDailynews.com

The stumbling Knicks could get a much-needed offensive jolt from a sweet-shooting small forward Monday.

No, that doesn't mean that New York is suddenly the favorite in the increasingly muddled Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes. But the Knicks are likely to get their own talented swingman, Danilo Gallinari, back for Monday's game against Phoenix at the Garden, as long as everything goes according to plan Sunday.

Gallinari, who suffered a mild sprain of his left knee early this month, is expected to practice Sunday with the team in Greenburgh. As long as the forward feels no extra soreness Monday, he'll return to the lineup.

"He should be ready (for Monday)," coach Mike D'Antoni said on Friday.

Gallinari's return couldn't come at a better time. The Knicks fell to the hapless Kings, 93-83, Friday night at the Garden, and they've now dropped three of their last four. Those early-month blowout wins over the Spurs and Suns now seem like a distant memory. D'Antoni called Friday's game "ugly," and Raymond Felton called it a "loss that we hate.

"We've just got to put it behind us," Felton said.

Not that things will get any easier against the Suns. Phoenix comes to New York seeking revenge after the Knicks handed them a 121-95 beatdown on Jan. 7, which is why Felton is dying for Gallinari to get back in the lineup.

"No question," Felton said. "It's always good to have one of your scorers, one of your guys who's a big part of the offense back."

With Gallinari sitting out, D'Antoni went to a bigger lineup, starting Ronny Turiaf at center and shifting Wilson Chandler to the wing, and the new group helped the Knicks earn wins over the Spurs and the Suns. Shawne Williams and Bill Walker also saw increased minutes, playing Gallinari's role of floor-spacing shooter.

But while Williams and Walker were effective, neither is as reliable - or feared - as Gallinari on the perimeter. Opponents have started clogging the lane.

That's left Amar'e Stoudemire and Felton little room to work their pick-and-roll game. Felton is shooting just 33.8% from the field over his last five games. And Stoudemire has found fewer paths to the lane. He made just six of his 22 field-goal attempts on Friday.

Stoudemire and D'Antoni blamed that loss on fatigue, but the Knicks star also admitted that Sacramento's defense frustrated him in the lane.

"They're just kind of sagging in on the screen and roll," Stoudemire said. "Making sure that nobody gets a layup in the paint. Forcing us to beat them from outside."

That won't work with Gallo back. And that's exactly what the third-year forward was thinking as he watched Stoudemire get shot after shot rejected on Friday.

"That was a tough loss, a very tough loss," Gallinari said afterward. "Hopefully, I can get back and help the team."

Read more: HERE