OKLAHOMA CITY — One point guard sat out, the other stayed out.
Jalen Brunson was active, starting Friday night against the Thunder after missing the previous game due to a calf strain.
He was listed as questionable before tipoff, but warmed up undeterred and returned after his only absence of the season.
Oklahoma City Thunder. Corey Shipkin of the New York Post
However, Myles McBride injured his hamstring during Wednesday's pregame warm-up and missed his second straight game.
Even without both on Wednesday, the Knicks beat the Jazz at MSG.
Their test was far tougher against the Thunder, who entered Friday night on a 13-game winning streak with the best record in the West.
McBride, the team's top reserve, missed five games earlier this season due to knee soreness.
After Friday morning's shootaround, Karl-Anthony Towns had a hard brace placed on his left ring finger.
When asked if it was broken, Towns replied, “It's a finger, so it's okay.” it's okay. ”
Towns injured his finger in Wednesday's win over the Jazz but continued to play, posting 31 points and 21 rebounds.
Perhaps fortunately, the finger injury was not on his dominant shooting hand.
“But I use both hands,” Towns said.
After two seasons in New York, Isaiah Hartenstein, now with the Thunder, clarified his statement that he did not allow Trae Young to roll the dice on the Garden logo.
“If someone did it, something happened, and it was this, I want to say more about my situation.” [OKC] In court,” Hartenstein said. “I can't say what they saw, but if I had seen it, I probably would have said something.” [to Young]”
Josh Hart, who was close to Young at the time, said he didn't see the roll of the dice.
Brunson said the Knicks should have won the game to stop the celebration.
Thibodeau expressed his sympathies to the family of longtime former Knicks employee Chris Bernard, who died suddenly of a heart attack earlier this week at just 47 years old.
“It's just sad,” the Knicks coach said. “And obviously my condolences go out to his family. My thoughts and prayers are with them. I was with the Knicks (as an assistant under Jeff Van Gundy) when he was hired. And just He's an incredible person. A bright light in every day. Great energy. It's just sad.”
Bernard worked for the Knicks for more than a decade, including as vice president of player development. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of athlete marketing and development at The Players' Tribune.
He leaves behind his wife, Amanda, and three children.
A GoFundMe page set up for Bernard's family by NBPA executive Dan Gladstone had raised about $140,000 by Friday afternoon.
