PORTLAND, Ore. — Carmelo Anthony was back in New York on Thursday, confronting a long needle and a cranky knee that has undermined a once-glorious Knicks season.

Anthony had fluid drained from the back of his right knee Thursday afternoon, after spending more than three weeks fighting stiffness and soreness while his game deteriorated. He is expected to rejoin the slumping Knicks on Friday in Los Angeles and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Clippers.

The Knicks played the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night without their three top stars, all because of knee injuries. Amar’e Stoudemire has been lost for six weeks after having surgery. Tyson Chandler sat out after bruising his left knee Wednesday. He is day to day.

There was some good news out of New York, however.

Doctors found no structural damage to Anthony’s knee. Nor was the fluid buildup caused by an arthritic condition. The team described the problem as simply a “soft-tissue fluid collection” in the back of the knee.