Ohhhh THURSDAY!!!

PHOENIX (AP) -- Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire is close to returning from a knee injury that has sidelined him all season.

After participating in 5-on-5 drills with teammates for the third time in four days, Stoudemire said Wednesday there's an 80 percent chance he'll play Thursday night against Portland. He said he would decide whether to play in the morning.

"If it feels good, then it's possible that I'll play," Stoudemire said. "The way it's feeling, it feels pretty good. I feel like I'm real close."

He joked with reporters who asked about whether he planned to issue a press release to announce his return.

"I may show up in street clothes and rip off the Superman cape," Stoudemire said.

Asked whether the opponent would dictate the timing of his return, Stoudemire smiled and recalled that he had set a career high with 50 points against Portland on Jan. 2, 2005.

"I know the last time we played Portland, I had 50," Stoudemire said. "Hint, hint."

The Suns don't expect that sort of production from Stoudemire immediately.

"He's got some pop to his game," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "That's encouraging."