Knicks: Frank Ntilikina sprains knee, and injury updates
Catching you up on the latest New York Knicks injury report.
While the New York Knicks have surprised everyone with a 2-2 start to their season, they haven’t done so because of good health. Tom Thibodeau has been forced to piece together lineups in reaction to a revolving door of injuries, something that has actually helped several Knicks make an impression in opportunities they otherwise might not have received.
One of those players is Frank Ntilikina. After playing only 7 minutes over the first two games, he found himself in the lineup against Milwaukee after Dennis Smith Jr. was ruled out with a contused left quad. The 2017 lottery pick made the most of his added playing time, connecting on four consecutive three-pointers in the Knicks’ blowout win over Milwaukee. He played another strong 16 minutes in the team’s win against Cleveland on Tuesday.
But now Ntilikina is hurt. The Knicks announced on Wednesday that the French guard suffered a mild right knee sprain that will cause him to miss the next game against Toronto on New Year’s Eve. Several reporters tweeted shortly after the news broke that the injury isn’t considered serious and Ntilikina is day-to-day.
Meanwhile, rookies Obi Toppin (sore right calf) and Immanuel Quickley (hip pointer) remain out of the lineup, although Quickley is questionable to return on Thursday. Toppin is expected to be re-evaluated by team doctors next week.
Free agent signing Austin Rivers has yet to make his Knicks debut. He has been battling a groin injury that has caused him to miss the team’s first four games. However, his status has been upgraded to questionable; it appears he is on the cusp of returning.
The Knicks also added Kevin Knox to their most recent injury report. He is considered probable with a sore left knee for the match-up against the Raptors.
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Big man Omari Spellman remains sidelined from a strained right calf. This week the team declined to exercise his team option for the 2021-22 season, as expected.