Alan Hahn's post on New York Knicks | Latest updates on Sulia

Jason Kidd played the first 5:24 of the game and did not return. Mike Woodson addressed his status:

"He's fine," Woodson said. "I just decided to rest him." Kidd had been dealing with back spasms before the weekend, but declared himself fit to play. But in neither game did he appear comfortable and on the bench he kept a heat pack on his lower back. Kidd is averaging 28 minutes per game this season, which is way more than the 39-year-old should be logging. At least during the regular season. Kidd doesn't want to sit out or take games off, but Woodson sounded like a coach who wants his veteran player to take a breather and re-fuel for what will be an exhausting second half. "I've beaten Jason Kidd up," Woodson said. "Jason is a bigger part of things than you can even imagine. This is a marathon, it's not -- one game ain't gonna determine anything. "I'm going to need him for the long haul and I think he knows that. If he doesn't, I'm going to tell him."