Bethany, Okla. ? New Orleans Hornets guard Peja Stojakovic said Friday a setback in his rehab from back surgery will delay his return to the court, hurting his chances of helping the team make a stretch run for a playoff spot.

“It got a little sore and stiffer,” said Stojakovic, a three-time All-Star who had a disc fragment removed from his lower back Dec. 17. “I’m going to relax a couple days and get some medication and see how it goes.”

The Hornets had planned to reevaluate Stojakovic to see whether he would be able to play tonight against the New York Knicks, but Stojakovic was unable to finish practice Friday. He started the session by shooting, but said he started to stiffen up when he started running. He worked out with trainers instead of practicing with teammates.

The intensity of Stojakovic’s workouts was increased this week to determine whether he’d be ready for a return in the stretch run. New Orleans entered Friday 21â2 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the Western Conference’s last playoff spot.

“I think doing that, now he’s feeling some of the pain of it,” coach Byron Scott said. “He’s a little sore, so we’re going to take a couple of days off to try to let his body get used to that.”

Scott said Stojakovic could return to practice Sunday or Monday. With only 10 games left, the Hornets are running out of time to pass the Clippers and the ninth-place Golden State Warriors.

“The only thing I’m thinking is get myself 100 percent. I don’t worry how many games, is it important or not? I miss playing so much,” Stojakovic said.