After which there was one.
The Knicks had been already down their top-two level guards coming into Wednesday’s matchup in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers, the second leg of a back-to-back following Tuesday’s victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Then veteran guard Cameron Payne — beginning for the injured Jalen Brunson — tweaked his proper ankle within the first quarter in opposition to L.A.
Payne went on to play six extra minutes within the second quarter however by no means emerged from the locker room after the halftime break. Minutes into the third quarter, the Knicks dominated him out with a sprained proper ankle. They went on to lose to the Clippers, 126-113, by way of a James Harden masterclass at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Ankles are tough. So are groins. Simply ask Brunson, who continues to be strolling gingerly after his March 6 damage in Los Angeles in opposition to the Lakers.
Ask Miles McBride, too.
McBride continues to be restricted in observe after final taking part in on March 20 in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets, based on head coach Tom Thibodeau.
So Thibodeau’s choices have been whittled right down to only one: Tyler Kolek, the rookie chosen out of Marquette thirty fourth general within the 2024 NBA Draft. Taking part in behind Payne, Kolek turned the primary rookie to ever report 17 assists with no turnovers by way of two consecutive video games — Tuesday vs. the Mavericks and Saturday in opposition to the Wizards.
Kolek began the second half in opposition to the Clippers for the injured Payne. His turnover-less streak ended 92 seconds of sport time later.
The Knicks led by as many as 14 within the first half, thanks largely to Payne’s early sizzling taking pictures: 15 factors in 19 minutes on 6-of-9 taking pictures from the sector and 3-of-6 taking pictures from deep. The Clippers then went on an 18-6 run within the third quarter and finally outscored the Knicks, 40-29, to open up a double-digit lead.
Los Angeles led New York, 94-84, after three quarters. The lead ballooned as massive as 19, because the Knicks by no means mounted a critical rally to chop into the deficit.
In the meantime, Thibodeau pulled Kolek on the prime of the fourth quarter. He looked for roster combos that would work given the workforce’s new actuality: no Brunson, no McBride, and now, no Payne.
Nothing, nonetheless, can compensate for the Knicks’ obtrusive weak point: no paint safety. The Clippers acquired what they wished on the rim all night time, no participant greater than Harden, who completed with a team-high 29 factors and 6 assists on 8-of-16 taking pictures from the sector. Harden buried the Knicks beneath a 6-of-9 taking pictures night time from downtown plus one other seven factors on eight makes an attempt on the foul line.
Thibodeau went to his twin large lineup of Karl-Anthony Cities and Mitchell Robinson, however that didn’t assist issues.
He subbed Landry Shamet and Delon Wright into the sport for Kolek and Josh Hart for defensive depth on the perimeter and left Mikal Bridges within the sport for an added scoring punch.
That didn’t assist a lot, both.
Wholesome our bodies are the one factor that may make a distinction at Madison Sq. Backyard, however the place there’s nice demand, misfortune would have it there’s additionally an amazing scarcity.
Cities completed with a game-high 32 factors and 12 rebounds on 11-of-20 taking pictures from the sector. OG Anunoby added 23 factors, and Bridges scored 15 of his whole 17 factors by way of the primary three quarters (together with 9 within the second quarter alone) earlier than going scoreless on 0-of-4 taking pictures within the remaining interval.
The Knicks acquired simply 12 factors from their bench — or what’s left of it. Kolek posted his third consecutive seven-plus-assist sport in 18 minutes in opposition to the Clippers on Wednesday however missed all three of his makes an attempt from the sector plus a pair of free throws.
Abruptly a Knicks workforce so depleted it’s leaning on a second-round choose should now hand that choose the keys to the offense. Thibodeau may bump Shamet into the beginning lineup and play Hart at level guard. He may begin Cities and Robinson collectively to create a measurement benefit. The Knicks may additionally name Boo Buie up from Westchester, the 6-2 guard signed to the roster on a two-way contract.
Buie averaged 10.5 factors and three.1 assists as a 36.5 p.c three-point shooter by way of 11 G-League video games this season.
Thibodeau may additionally do what he did within the third quarter on Wednesday: play the rookie.
It’s trial by hearth, but it surely’s all of the Knicks have if Payne’s damage retains him sidelined subsequent to Brunson and McBride.
Initially Revealed: March 26, 2025 at 10:02 PM EDT
