Carmelo leaves game with left knee injury, admits he's close to shutting down

With the All-Star Game just a few days away, Carmelo Anthony's season could soon come to a close.

Fighting through a sore left knee for most of the season - which may require surgery to repair at some point - Anthony was once again bothered by it on Monday. He had to leave the New York Knicks' game against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter to get his knee retaped, but he appeared to be in discomfort before doing so.

The team said he would not return shortly after announcing he was having his knee retaped. The Knicks were down 15 with just four minutes to play at the time, so it's the prudent move.

It is not believed that Anthony can damage his knee further by playing on it - it just won't get any better until he shuts things down. It's no secret that Anthony wants to play in Sunday's All-Star Game, which his team is hosting at Madison Square Garden. With the Knicks long since out of the playoff race, there's little reason for him to play beyond that point, particularly if he chooses a surgical option for his knee.

Whether or not Monday's incident points toward Anthony shutting it down appears to be a matter of debate.

"I think he'll be fine," head coach Derek Fisher said after the game. "Just kinda irritated it a little bit."

Anthony himself was more humbled by the latest setback.

"I'm restricted," Anthony said, telling reporters he's getting closer to the point where it makes sense to stop playing for an extended period.

The Knicks have already been giving Anthony additional rest, including sitting him in some back-to-back situations, but he's averaged 35.8 minutes in games he's played. He was averaging 24.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and three assists entering play Monday, and he had looked solid before aggravating his knee, scoring 26 points on 9-of-20 shooting.

The Knicks play again Wednesday, then Anthony would have the All-Star Game on Sunday, and then he would be off until Feb. 20. It still seems possible he'll be able to play in the All-Star Game, but the end of his 2014-15 season may be near.