Here are the latest news updates and possible return dates for Knicks players…
April 11, 7:05 p.m.
After being game-time decisions, the Knicks announced that Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee) will not play in Friday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jalen Brunson (ankle), OG Anunoby (thumb) and Josh Hart (knee), who were also game-time decisions, are all available.
April 11, 1:50 p.m.
The Knicks are listing four of their five starters as questionable for Friday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers: Jalen Brunson (right ankle sprain, injury recovery), OG Anunoby (right thumb sprain), Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee), and Josh Hart (right knee).
Both Anunoby and Hart did not play in Thursday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell, De’Andre Hunter, and Ty Jerome are all out for the Cavs, who have already locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley notes that the Knicks are expected to rest at least one starter against Cleveland.
New York needs to win one of its final two games or have the Indiana Pacers lose one of their final two games to clinch the No. 3 seed. The Pacers are resting all five of their starters on Friday night against the Orlando Magic.
April 9, 4:45 p.m.
The Knicks only have a handful of games before the playoffs begin, but with their last back-to-back coming on Thursday against the Pistons at Detroit, the team has designated three key players as out for the game.
OG Anunoby (right thumb sprain), Josh Hart (right knee) and Mitchell Robinson (injury recovery) are all out for Thursday, according to the official injury report.
After Thursday in Detroit, the Knicks return home to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday before ending the season against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at Barclays Center.
Entering Thursday, the Knicks hold on to the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs by just two games over the Indiana Pacers. If the season ended today, they would be facing the Pistons, who are two games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 5 seed. After Detroit hosts the Knicks, they finish the year by taking on the Bucks on Friday and Sunday in home-road games.
Mar. 27, 5:55 p.m.
The Knicks will be without two point guards for Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Cam Payne (ankle) and Miles McBride (groin) have been ruled out, the team announced Thursday via the NBA injury report. This will be McBride’s fourth consecutive game he’s missed due to a strained groin while this will be Payne’s first after missing the second half of Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers after spraining his ankle.
This means the Knicks will go into Friday’s game with just two true point guards in Tyler Kolek and veteran Delon Wright, who both played in extended minutes with Payne missing two quarters.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said after Wednesday’s game that McBride remained day-to-day and that Kolek and Wright were “more than enough.” Josh Hart will also likely see time on playing the point on Friday.
Mar. 26, 9:07 p.m.
The Knicks are down another point guard as Cam Payne – in the starting lineup with Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride sidelined – was ruled out at halftime for the remainder of Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a right ankle sprain, the team announced.
Payne landed awkwardly after a shot attempt, twisting his ankle in the first quarter. He remained in the game despite appearing to favor his leg. Of course, he was effective with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting (3-for-6 from three) in 18 first-half minutes.
Tyler Kolek replaced him and was the Knicks’ lone true point guard dressed for the game.
Mar. 25, 6:15 p.m.
Ariel Hukporti hasn’t made much progress in his return from a torn meniscus.
Hukporti is still only participating in individual work during practice, head coach Tom Thibodeau said on Tuesday.
The rookie suffered the injury in his first career start four weeks ago, and it’s still unknown when or if he’ll return this season.
Mitchell Robinson is set to miss Tuesday night’s game against the Mavericks for injury recovery.
The big man still isn’t ready to play on back-to-back nights after missing 10 months following offseason ankle surgery.
When asked if he’ll be back out there on Wednesday night against the Clippers, Thibodeau said “we’ll see.”
Mar. 24, 6:10 p.m.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau said Monday that Jalen Brunson isn’t practicing yet, but is making “really good progress” as he works his way back from an ankle injury. Thibodeau added that practice will be the next step and he’s “doing a lot of shooting, work in the pool, work on the bike,” helping him maintain conditioning.
The team said on Saturday that he’s been doing controlled court work and his official status will be updated in a week. SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley noted the Knicks are not going to rush him back.
Meanwhile, Miles McBride (groin) will miss his second straight game on Tuesday when the Knicks take on the Dallas Mavericks, the team announced. McBride played 36 minutes on March 20 against the Charlotte Hornets, but missed Saturday’s win over the Washington Wizards.
Mitchell Robinson (foot), who missed the matchup against the Hornets and played 17 minutes against the Wizards, is questionable. He hasn’t been playing in back-to-back games since recovering from offseason surgery and the Knicks start home back-to-backs on Tuesday.
Mar. 20, 1:45 p.m.
The Knicks will be without Mitchell Robinson for Thursday night’s game against the Hornets.
As expected, the big man has been ruled out on the second night of a back-to-back for injury…
