Karl-Anthony Cities gave it a go.
Along with his Knicks’ season on the road, the All-Star heart was within the beginning lineup for Recreation 5 of the Jap Convention Finals at Madison Sq. Backyard after being listed as questionable with a left knee contusion.
Cities’ standing was formally introduced a few half hour earlier than Thursday night time’s tip-off. Head coach Tom Thibodeau had described Cities as a game-time choice, and Cities didn’t take the courtroom at his regular time for pre-game warm-ups.
The damage occurred with about two minutes left within the Knicks’ 130-121 loss in Recreation 4 when Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith crashed into Cities on a drive to the basket.
The collision triggered Cities to fall to the courtroom, maintain that left knee and writhe in ache.
Cities performed the rest of that fourth quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse however was visibly hobbled. He was then tight-lipped in regards to the state of his knee.
“I’m only thinking about the loss,” Cities stated on the podium after Recreation 4. “I’m not thinking about that right now. It’s disappointing when you don’t get a win. We just didn’t do enough to get the job done.”
Cities, 29, underwent surgical procedure for a lateral meniscus tear in that left knee in March 2024, when he was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He missed time throughout the 2024-25 common season with patellar tendonopathy in the identical knee.
Cities entered Thursday night time’s Recreation 5 averaging 25.8 factors on 52.4% capturing and 11.5 rebounds per recreation in an up-and-down convention finals.
He spent almost seven minutes on the bench within the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Recreation 2 loss on an evening he struggled defensively. Cities’ 20-point fourth quarter in Recreation 3, in the meantime, fueled a livid come-from-behind victory.
The majority of Cities’ success within the first 4 video games got here with level guard Jalen Brunson on the bench.
The Knicks traded ahead Julius Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves in October to amass Cities, hoping the sharp-shooting 7-footer would put them excessive.
Cities averaged 24.4 factors and 12.8 rebounds per recreation within the common season en path to a variety on the All-NBA third group.
The knee contusion added to the record of postseason illnesses for Cities, who suffered a finger damage on his left, non-shooting hand in Recreation 3 of the Knicks’ second-round sequence in opposition to the Boston Celtics. He didn’t miss any time because of that damage.
Nesmith, who suffered a proper ankle sprain in Recreation 3, was additionally energetic Thursday after being listed as questionable. He returned towards the tip of Recreation 3 and began Recreation 4, scoring 16 factors in 32 minutes.
