Will Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin play in Knicks’ season opener?
The New York Knicks will open the regular season tomorrow night in Memphis, and there’s a chance that the team will be without two key reserve players in Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin.
Grimes missed New York’s first three preseason games with a sore left foot. He was spotted in a walking boot at training camp, which means that he didn’t have the opportunity to compete with Evan Fournier for the starting shooting guard spot.
In Friday night’s preseason finale, Grimes played in 16 minutes and only took two shots (both of which he missed), but he was able to knock the rust off. Obi Toppin played in 18 minutes before he suffered an ankle injury. During the game, it looked as if Toppin tripped over someone who was sitting courtside at MSG.
On Monday, Tom Thibodeau said that Grimes and Toppin participated “in parts” of practice, but that their status for Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies is unknown. Toppin didn’t practice on Sunday, but Grimes did, although he was limited.
Quentin Grimes & Obi Toppin did parts of practice today, Tom Thibodeau says. Status for both Toppin & Grimes for Wednesday is TBD. Thibodeau says training staff’s plan for Grimes is to get to point where he’s not dealing w/soreness in left foot. Doesn’t sound like he’s there yet.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 17, 2022
There’s a chance that Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin won’t play for Knicks in regular-season opener
It’s a good sign that Toppin was able to practice in some capacity on Monday, but based on what Thibodeau said about Grimes, it seems as if the guard will be out tomorrow night. Fans should go ahead and prepare for Toppin to possibly be out too, although he appears to be in a better position to play than Grimes.
Toppin had a solid preseason, especially his performance in the win over Indiana at MSG. His ability to run the floor in transition helped him to throw down four dunks. He’s playing behind Julius Randle, who had a better preseason than many thought he would. Toppin undoubtedly deserves to play more than he did in his first two seasons, and that’s something that even Thibs can’t deny.
Fans waited during the offseason to get a notification that Fournier had been traded, but that never happened. He’ll continue to be a starter for the Knicks, but as soon as Grimes is no longer dealing with foot soreness, Fournier’s starting spot won’t be so secure.
If Grimes and Toppin don’t play in Memphis, hopefully they’ll both be good to go for New York’s home opener on Friday night against Detroit.
