--After practice Saturday, forward Yi Jianlian was playing in a 3-on-3 game, testing the knee that he sprained back on Nov. 2 in the fourth game of the season. Yi was all set to return Sunday for a few minutes when he took an inadvertent elbow to the mouth. He needed 50 stitches. "Unfortunately, he's going to be out another week or so," said interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe. "I know Yi wanted to get some minutes (Sunday) and we were going to see how he did after the (3-on-3). Sometimes, these things work out for the best. He really wanted to get back, was very anxious to get back, so maybe he was hurrying himself. So he'll be fully recovered when he gets back." --Guard Rafer Alston returned to the bench after sitting two games with a sore left knee. He admitted he needed rest after a heavy workload created by injuries. Devin Harris was hurt and Keyon Dooling was still rehabbing from off-season hip surgery.
But Alston also admitted he wanted to play Sunday because the Nets were in Madison Square Garden.
"Every time I go there, it feels like the first time because it's the place where as a child you grow up dreaming about," said Alston, a city product out of Queens. "You dream of being a Knick and playing there. So playing there, it's just fantastic."
Alston played 20 minutes and scored eight points, but shot 3-of-11.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Wow, 50 stitches. I don't believe it. He wanted to keep playing, actually." -- Forward/center Sean Williams, after learning teammate Yi Jianlian required 50 stitches to close a gash in his lip that Williams inadvertently caused with an elbow after practice
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