Accidents proceed to hamper the Knicks’ frontcourt.
Karl-Anthony Cities missed Wednesday night time’s residence recreation towards the Philadelphia 76ers with patellar tendonopathy in his left knee, three days after the All-Star heart got here up gimpy throughout Sunday’s 118-105 loss in Boston.
Rookie heart Ariel Hukporti obtained his first profession begin in Cities’ place.
Cities, 29, landed awkwardly on a dunk try with beneath 9 minutes remaining within the fourth quarter towards the Celtics, then winced and grabbed his knee after getting again on protection.
He was in seen discomfort as he obtained medical consideration on the bench, then disappeared into the locker room earlier than checking again into the sport with 4:12 remaining and the Knicks down by 19 factors.
Cities practiced Tuesday and was listed as questionable going into Wednesday’s recreation, with head coach Tom Thibodeau calling him a “game-time decision” lower than two hours earlier than tip-off.
However the Knicks ended up sitting Cities for the sixth time this season.
Acquired in an October commerce with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cities is averaging 24.8 factors and a career-high 13.5 rebounds per recreation this season.
Cities underwent surgical procedure final March for a lateral meniscus tear in that very same left knee however returned in time for the Wolves’ playoff run.
The Knicks have used Cities at heart all season with Mitchell Robinson nonetheless out following final Could’s left ankle surgical procedure. Cities performed energy ahead the previous two seasons with Minnesota.
Robinson is nearing his season debut however was as soon as once more dominated out of Wednesday’s recreation.
Cities is the newest Knick to overlook time with an harm this month.
Ahead OG Anunoby returned Friday following a six-game absence for a proper foot pressure, whereas guard Josh Hart missed the primary two video games after the All-Star break with patellofemoral syndrome, or “runner’s knee,” in his proper knee. Hart returned Sunday.
The 76ers, in the meantime, had been with out their beginning heart, Joel Embiid, who has appeared in solely 19 video games this season as he offers with an ailing left knee that required surgical procedure final February.
A second-round choose, the 7-foot Hukporti entered Wednesday averaging 1.7 factors and a couple of.0 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per recreation over 24 appearances.
