SEE YA SOON
Hardaway hopes to be back by mid-Jan.
DALLAS — The light is at the end of the tunnel — possibly 10 days away.
Knicks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. returned to practice limitedly Saturday in Dallas, participated in halfcourt scrimmages and acknowledged he could return during the six-game road trip that starts in Memphis on Jan. 17 and goes out west.
“Maybe sometime on the West Coast,’’ Hardaway said after practice at AmericanAirlines Center. “Not going to have too many home games so possibly so ... Hopefully if not this next week [upcoming], the week after that.”
Hardaway, suffering from a stress reaction in his left leg, has missed five weeks — the Knicks now straining without his offensive punch, falling to 18-21.
Hardaway revealed when he first got the diagnosis before the Orlando game Dec. 3, he was hoping for a Christmas return but knew that was a long shot.
“I’ve been doing that [looking at the calendar] since I was out the first two weeks,’’ Hardaway said. “I was itching to get back for Christmas but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I was itching to go home against Miami [Friday], my hometown. It was painful not to be there. I had those two games circled on the calendar.’’
Hardaway will miss his 19th game Sunday in Dallas. The Knicks are searching for more offense without him — 7-11 in his absence after a 1-7 slide.
“He’s a big part of our team,’’ coach Jeff Hornacek said. “We’ve been close in these games. When you get one of your top players back, it might be enough to get us over the hump.’’
On Saturday, the $71 million man who was averaging 18 points performed halfcourt drills with contact for the first time, going 1-on-1 against Frank Ntilikina, sweating profusely as he came off the court.
Hardaway said he will get a bone scan this week to see if the bone inflames after his most rigorous activity — halfcourt scrimmages. At that point, he could be cleared for fullcourt scrimmages. He has yet to be cleared to sprint full court.
“It felt just good to be back with the guys,’’ Hardaway said. “I’m happy with the result so far. I was fine for the first two, three minutes, getting my feet warm and rust off and practice with the guys. Once I did my first drill, I got confident and comfortable.
“I’m just excited to be part of it, to practice and be with the guys and see me out there sweating and competing with those guys.”
Michael Beasley, who took a spill during overtime, missing most of it in the Knicks’ loss in Miami on Friday, was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle, didn’t practice Saturday and is questionable for Dallas.