The Knicks confirmed loads of bark with out their KAT.
Karl-Anthony Cities, who has carried the load throughout Jalen Brunson’s 13-game absence with an ankle harm, was a game-time scratch Tuesday earlier than a 105-91 victory towards the lowly 76ers at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Cities averaged 34.5 minutes over the 13 video games since he was final inactive throughout a loss to the Warriors on March 4.
He’s coping with left knee soreness and missed his eighth sport of the season.
“We’ll take it day by day,” coach Tom Thibodeau stated.
The Knicks nonetheless had 5 double-figure scorers, and Mitchell Robinson stuffed the void on the glass with a season-high 14 rebounds.
He made his second begin in simply his 14th sport of the season.
win over the 76ers on April 1, 2025. John Jones-Imagn Pictures
As a result of the Knicks are again in motion Wednesday towards the Cavaliers, and Robinson hasn’t but performed in back-to-back video games since coming off of offseason foot surgical procedure, the Knicks might be in a pickle if Cities is out once more.
The Knicks signed defensive-minded veteran ahead P.J. Tucker to a two-year contract Tuesday, after his second 10-day contract expired.
Tucker has performed in only one sport, so what does he supply that was too beneficial to lose?
The house crowd chanted for Tucker to enter the sport late within the blowout towards his former staff, however he didn’t.
“Just veteran leadership,” Thibodeau stated. “Come in and be a good voice for the team.”
Josh Hart’s coast-to-coast, buzzer-beating layup to finish the third quarter pushed the Knicks’ result in 80-70.
A 17-point halftime lead had been trimmed to 5.
And it was an ideal instance of why the do-it-all Hart is so beneficial to the Knicks.
“His presence of mind,” Thibodeau stated. “It was a timely play. It was a much-needed play for us.,” Thibodeau stated. “It sort of gave us momentum going into the fourth. But that’s what Josh does. He makes plays like that to get the team inspired and get you going.”
New Jets quarterback Justin Fields was sitting courtside and tossed an autographed soccer into the stands after he was launched to the group on the scoreboard and acquired an ovation.
New Giants quarterback Russell Wilson — Fields’ former Steelers teammate — acquired the identical remedy at a sport final week.
Requested if the Knicks may get again any of their injured level guards — Brunson, Deuce McBride or Cam Payne — throughout the subsequent two street video games, Thibodeau laughed.
“I’m always hopeful,” the not-so-optimistic by nature Thibodeau quipped. “I’m the eternal optimist.”
