Mario Hezonja uses an emoji to respond to ex-Knicks exec/scout Clarence Gaines Jr.'s analysis of NYK-BOS, in which Gaines Jr. calls Hezonja a ‘huge liability' on defense. Gaines Jr. was close with ex-Knicks president Phil Jackson.
The NBA's last 2-minute report found two errors in the Knicks' loss to the Celtics: New York committed a 5-second violation on the inbound of its final possession. Trey Burke drew a foul on his 3-point attempt on that possession and had a chance to tie the game from the line. Enes Kanter didn't foul Marcus Smart with 1:37 to play. Kanter fouled out on the play. Smart made one of two free throws to put BOS up 4.
Knicks rookie Kevin Knox will be sidelined for at least one week due to a left ankle sprain.
Kevin Knox won't travel with the Knicks on their two-game road trip and will be re-evaluated in a week, the team said. He sprained his left ankle last night, which was confirmed by an MRI today.
David Fizdale on Kristaps Porzingis being with the Knicks during practice and games while he rehabs post ACL surgery: "It's good for his mindset. When you're out that long and you're dealing with injury and you're dealing with, (you think) if I don't come back the same and man I can't even play and these guys are having fun and competing' and all of that. For him to be around helps. Because it's very easy to go into some depression if you stay away from the team when you're going through something that big. So I think it's really good for him. I know it's good for us. The young guys look to him for advice. And for encouragement. And he sees the game very clearly. The film sessions have been fantastic with him. Just him taking over the film sessions and (saying) hey, we have to do this, do this. I know he needs that right now. To feel connected and like I said he's been fantastic from that point. Totally engaged."
Kyrie Irving said that before he committed to re-signing with the Celtics, he strongly considered the Knicks as a potential destination.
Kyrie Irving said he considered the Knicks as a potential destination for him before he committed to re-sign with Boston. He mentioned growing up in New Jersey, playing with Kristaps Porzingis and playing for David Fizdale as factors that were attractive to him.
David Fizdale said he had a ‘bad feeling' in his stomach when Kevin Knox went down because he could see how Knox's ankle twisted. He hopes Knox, 19, can bounce back quickly but he doesn't know if the rookie will go for an MRI or make the trip to Milwaukee. X-rays were negative.
David Fizdale said several times that he drew up a ‘crap play' on the Knicks' final possession when NYK struggled to inbound. "I should have dropkicked (the play) out the door."
Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics withstood his careless foul with 1.9 seconds left to beat the New York Knicks 103-101 on Saturday night.
Poor mistake by Jayson Tatum, who fouled Trey Burke on a broken play to give him three free-throws with the Knicks down three and ten seconds to play. Burke missed the first, made the second and missed the third intentionally but New York couldn't recover the rebound. They lost by two a night after losing to Brooklyn by one. New York is 1-2 on the season.
Knicks and Celtics are tied at 89-89 after back-to-back threes from Tim Hardaway Jr. (24 points). Four minutes to play. The sequence brought Tim Hardaway Sr. to his feet at MSG.
Knicks rookie Kevin Knox had to be helped off the court after suffering a sprained left ankle Saturday against the Celtics. X-rays were negative, but it was unclear whether he would make the trip for Monday's game against the Bucks.
David Fizdale said Tim Hardaway Jr. showed leadership by holding himself accountable in his interview with media after the Nets game. Hardaway Jr. said after the Knicks' loss to Brooklyn that he should have shot less and should have forced Caris LeVert right on the Nets' final possession on Friday. "I talked to the team and talked to (Hardaway Jr.) today. I thought he showed great leadership on his part to own the last possession defensively and also own how many shots he took," Fizdale said. "I really didn't have a problem with his shot attempts. Brooklyn was doing a good job on Enes (Kanter) defensively and he started slow. And Timmy is our perimeter offensive weapon."
Brad Stevens says Gordon Hayward is sitting against the Knicks on Saturday due to ‘general soreness.' He says the absence wasn't previously planned.
David Fizdale says Kyrie Irving is ‘the one guy' he would pay to see play.
David Fizdale said there was ‘no way' he was taking Tim Hardaway Jr. off of Caris LeVert on the last possession last night against BK, in part, because he wants Hardaway Jr. to be a complete defensive player.
Mitchell Robinson was available to play on Friday and David Fizdale says he will play tonight. Fizdale said he probably should have played Robinson last night because of his shot-blocking but it sounded like hame had some concern about his ankle.
The Westchester Knicks selected Indiana SF Freddie McSwain with their second-round pick in the G League Draft today.
The Westchester Knicks selected Mount Saint Mary's forward Chris Wray with their first-round pick in the G League Draft today.
The Celtics say Gordon Hayward will not play on Saturday against the Knicks - the second game of a back-to-back - due to left ankle recovery.
David Fizdale on Frank Ntilikina (9 points, 4 assists, 3 steals), who had 7 points in a 2-minute span of the 3rd quarter to get the Knicks back in a game they'd eventually lose to Brooklyn. "Frank, he just keeps giving me multiple things. We needed some scoring, we needed a spark and he gave it to us there. When we needed defense the other night, he gave it to us there. Frank is our guy that does a lot different stuff for us and he's wearing that well .. He's going to fill out his role as we play more games and I'm going to let him tell me what that is. I'm going to just keep putting him out there and letting him play free and he'll start finding his comfort zone and where to be aggressive and where not to be aggressive as the season goes on."
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | - | W3 |
| Boston | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1 | W1 |
| Philadelphia | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1 | W2 |
| New York | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2 | L2 |
| Brooklyn | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2 | L1 |
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(9) | Kevin Knox | SF | Kentucky |
| 2(6) | Mitchell Robinson | C | Western Kentucky |
| YEAR | W | L | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 1 | 2 | .333 |
| 2017-18 | 29 | 53 | .354 |
| 2016-17 | 31 | 51 | .378 |
| 2015-16 | 32 | 50 | .390 |
| 2014-15 | 17 | 65 | .207 |
