The hobbling Knicks head into the All-Star break looking to get whole
After a crushing 105-103 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Monday, the Knicks faced the Orlando Magic last night (Wednesday) in their second straight game on the road before beginning the All-Star break. They were 33-21 and the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference before playing the Magic.
The Boston Celtics (42-12), Cleveland Cavaliers (35-17) and Milwaukee Bucks (35-20), all who held these records when the NBA’s schedule began yesterday, were the only teams in the East with better records. The Knicks have just 28 regular season games remaining.
The loss to the Rockets was the Knicks’ fourth in their previous five games before meeting up with Orlando. Prior to the mini-slump, they had won nine in a row. Injuries have been the primary cause of the setback. Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder), OG Anunoby (right elbow inflammation), Isaiah Hartenstein (left Achilles tendinopathy), Jericho Sims (illness), Jalen Brunson (right ankle sprain) and Mitchell Robinson (left ankle surgery) have all missed time.
Robinson has been sidelined since sustaining his injury on December 8. Randle and Anunoby last played on January 27. Hartenstein sat out in Saturday’s 125-111 loss to the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden and Monday at Houston, while Sims returned Monday to play a season high 29 minutes after a three-game absence.
Hartenstein was listed as questionable heading into last night’s game. Additionally, guard Donte DiVincenzo injured his right hamstring late in the fourth quarter versus the Rockets and his status as of early yesterday afternoon for last night’s game was also uncertain.
The ending of the game against Houston was marred by controversy as guard Jalen Brunson was called for fouling Rockets guard Aaron Holiday by a referee on a 3-point attempt with 0.1 seconds remaining and the score tied at 103. Holiday made two of three foul shots to give Houston the victory. Crew chief Ed Malloy acknowledged it was an incorrect ruling and that Brunson in fact had not fouled Holiday.
“After seeing it during postgame review, the offensive player was able to return to a normal playing position on the floor,”said Malloy. “The contact which occurred after the release of the ball therefore is incidental and marginal to the shot attempt and should not have been called.”
The Knicks filed a formal protest with the league office on Tuesday.
When Brunson was asked about the issue following the contest, his response was terse and caustic. “Great call. Next question,” he replied.
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