Lin tests out knee, status in doubt

NEW YORK — Jeremy Lin tested his surgically repaired left knee with shooting and conditioning drills on Wednesday, but it remained unclear if the Knicks sensation could return if New York goes deep in the NBA playoffs.

"I asked him yesterday how he felt after getting out and running a little bit," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said.

"He said he felt pretty good. But we've got to put him through drills where he's cutting and things of that nature to make sure the knee doesn't swell up and he's not physically sore."

Lin had surgery to repair a torn meniscus on April 2, with the projected six-week recovery time ruling him out for the rest of the regular season and probably the first round of the playoffs.

"I would like to think if we were able to get out of this first round, he should be ready for the second round," Woodson said.

"Again, it's not for me to determine that. He's got to come to us along with the doctors and say that the knee feels fine and he's confident that he can cut and do the things he once did."

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Houllier awaits tests at hospital

Birmingham, England — Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier was in a "comfortable" condition on Thursday after being hospitalized and will not be in charge of the team for this weekend's Premier League match against Stoke.

Villa said Houllier was admitted to a hospital on Wednesday night and will remain there "for several days" while he undergoes more tests.

The club didn't specify the exact nature of Houllier's problem. "I spoke with him this morning... and he sounded very positive," Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner said.

The 63-year-old Frenchman will temporarily relinquish firstteam duties to assistant coach Gary McAllister, who took training on Thursday and will be in charge for Saturday's home match at Villa Park.

Houllier had open heart surgery in October 2001 while manager of Liverpool, and was out of the game for five months.

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