Andrea Bargnani out again Saturday, Knicks unsure of status this week

It was a great 22 minutes.

That's all Andrea Bargnani has managed to play so far this season, suiting up for just a pair of games after a lengthy absence, only to hit the shelf once again with a strained right calf.

The man once known as Il Mago will sit out his fifth consecutive game Saturday when his New York Knicks take on the Charlotte Hornets, and head coach Derek Fisher said he's unsure if Bargnani will be able to practice with the team next week. The Knicks are heading to London, England for a global showcase Thursday, and the league would obviously prefer such a megastar to be in the lineup, unlikely though that seems.

In the 22 minutes he played, Bargnani shot 4-of-11 for nine points with four rebounds and two assists. In 42 games last season, he averaged 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds but shot a woeful 27.8 percent from long range, likely putting to rest his now-unwarranted reputation as a floor-spacer.