Knicks guard Miles McBride missed his third straight sport with a left groin contusion and sat Wednesday’s sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers, the second leg of a back-to-back after New York’s victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned McBride, who was the fill-in starter for Jalen Brunson (proper ankle sprain) earlier than his personal damage, is a restricted participant in observe.
Thibodeau mentioned he’s uncertain when McBride’s damage passed off.
“I don’t know if he aggravated it [in a March 20 matchup against the Charlotte Hornets],” he mentioned. “It’s just, things happen.”
With each Brunson and McBride out as a result of damage, veteran guard Cameron Payne has elevated to starter standing with rookie Tyler Kolek enjoying the sixth man position as the primary guard off the bench.
In his final two appearances, Kolek has tallied 17 assists to zero turnovers. No rookie has ever posted 17 assists to zero turnovers for the reason that NBA started monitoring the stats 42 years in the past.
“Each team is different so we saw a lot of switching, and movement without the ball created advantages,” Thibodeau mentioned of Kolek’s play-making. “When guys are working together, it’s going to create opportunities. So we always say move it early and move it often. If you do that, you’re gonna get good-percentage shots, and if you’re taking good shots, you have a good chance to make those. So I think staying organized and working together is a big part of that.”
The Knicks additionally re-assigned rookie Pacome Dadiet again to the Westchester Knicks. New York chosen Dadiet Twenty fifth-overall within the 2024 NBA Draft however his enjoying time has been minimal underneath Thibodeau.
“Yeah those guys are going back and forth [from the Knicks to Westchester] right now, trying to balance the time that they’re here along with getting playing time in the G League. So it’s all part of the learning and development of the young player,” Thibodeau mentioned. “So approach each day with putting everything you have into it. Learn as much as you can. We like the G League because there’s nothing like the learning that you do by actually doing. And you learn by trial and error. So obviously if you’re not playing here, getting in those (G League) games to try to do all the things that you’re working on in practice and not to be afraid to make mistakes. I think that’s a big part of growing. and Tyler did that and he’s prepared himself well for the opportunity that he has now. All our young guys, we’d like them to do the same.”
The Knicks additionally re-assigned Kevin McCullar Jr. again to Westchester after the rookie made his season debut in opposition to the Mavericks on Friday. New York acquired McCullar, who went 56th total, in a draft day cope with the Phoenix Suns, however the Kansas product’s rookie yr was postponed as a result of a process on his knee that price him practically a yr.
“It’s been rough, but I kept my head on straight,” McCullar mentioned on Wednesday. “Everybody has been supporting me here and I’m just glad that I’m back playing now.”
“Kevin has worked extremely hard, and he’s been through a lot. His rehab was long and arduous and he’s worked his way through that,” Thibodeau added. “He started playing in the G-League and put together some good games. This is his first opportunity, and there’s an appreciation for the way he’s worked.”
FOUR-REAL?
Wednesday’s second leg of a back-to-back in opposition to the Clippers marked the conclusion of the primary of 4 back-to-backs within the closing 12 video games of the common season.
“Four?!” exclaimed Karl-Anthony Cities.
How can the starters put themselves in the most effective place to outlive these video games and be in peak form for New York’s playoff run?
“Do our jobs at a high level, and then give ourselves a chance to make the games easier for ourselves,” mentioned Cities. “I think that’s gonna be the most important thing. We’re coming down to the stretch. We know what we want to accomplish and nothing’s impossible, so we’ve gotta keep putting ourselves in position to win and let the league and the games play itself out.”
