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Knicks semifinal playoff nightmare gets worse with Immanuel Quickley injury

By Jordanna Clark

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 26: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks reacts after getting called for a foul during Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 26, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. New York defeated Cleveland 106-95 to win the series 4-1. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 26: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks reacts after getting called for a foul during Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 26, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. New York defeated Cleveland 106-95 to win the series 4-1. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks were not ready for Game 3 in Miami. It didn’t matter that there were three full days in between what was nearly a Game 2 loss for New York and Game 3. Rather than prepare to make the necessary adjustments in time for Saturday, the Knicks came out looking even worse than they did in Game 2 of the first round.

New York shot 34.1% from the field and 20% from three. In fact, the Knicks didn’t hit their first three-pointer of the game until Immanuel Quickley did so six minutes into the second quarter. New York couldn’t get anything going, especially with Miami doubling Jalen Brunson while leaving Josh Hart open. It was a disaster from start to finish with the Knicks suffering a tough injury in the fourth quarter.

Quickley scored 12 points in 20 minutes, which included two of the eight three-pointers that New York hit as a team. He shot 4-of-12 from the field, so while he didn’t have a good game offensively, it was nice to see him start to get something going after not playing in the first quarter. However, all hope was erased in the fourth quarter when he went straight back to the locker room after injuring his ankle.

With a little over six minutes left to play in the game, Quickley knocked the ball loose from Bam Adebayo, who then tried to dive back to the ball but instead went straight into IQ’s legs. Quickley stayed on the floor holding his left ankle in pain before exiting the game.

Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley suffers left leg injury in brutal Game 3 loss

Immanuel Quickley was seen grimacing as he slowly walked back to the locker room with a member of the Knicks’ medical staff.

Quickley was a catalyst off the bench for New York during the regular season which led to him being a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year, but his play in the playoffs has been a huge concern. He’s averaging only 9.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting a poor 34.8% from the field and 24.3% from three. For comparison, he averaged 14.9 points in 81 regular-season games and shot 44.8% from the floor and 37% from deep.

Fans have been waiting patiently for Quickley to show up in the postseason, and he had a couple of promising flashes in Game 3. Now, with the Knicks having only one full day of rest before Game 4 on Monday night, it’s looking as if IQ could be out.

Tom Thibodeau said after the game that Quickley suffered an ankle sprain and that the team will know more on Sunday. Hopefully, the injury isn’t too serious.

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