Miles McBride is on the injury report again, but with another illness.
The guard, the sixth man and the only reserve coach coach Tom Thibodeau trusts, is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against the Sixers because of inflammation in his left knee.
That's the same knee McBride hyperextended in a win over the Pacers in October. He has been wearing black tape ever since.
McBride was also doubtful to play in Sunday's game at Indiana due to illness, but he played 29 minutes and recorded seven points and two steals.
After igniting his shot to begin the season, McBride faltered through five games in November, shooting just 34 percent overall and 30 percent from beyond the arc.
If McBride is absent, the already thin bench will be devastated. The acquisition of Cam Payne, who has missed four games in a row with a hamstring strain, will be even more important.
Payne is also listed as a candidate Tuesday.
Precious Achiuwa is out again after suffering a hamstring strain in the final preseason game more than three weeks ago. He hasn't played yet this season.
“Cam is revealing more on the court, so he's progressing further,” Thibodeau said. “Precious hasn't been cleared to practice yet. He's been doing a lot on the court, but he hasn't been cleared to practice. So it's one more step before we can say he's close.” there is.”
Tyler Kolek and Jericho Sims were part of the rotation due to injuries, but they only played a combined three minutes in the second half in Sunday's loss as Thibodeau primarily stuck with six players.
The Knicks go from being a playoff failure to a playoff victory.
After Sunday's loss to the Pacers in Indy, Thibodeau's team begins its NBA Cup schedule against the Sixers, where Joel Embiid is expected to make his season debut.
This will be the first time the Knicks have played in Philadelphia since defeating the Sixers in Game 6 of the season opener in May. Although there is no playoff stakes, this matchup is even more important as both franchises have struggled from the start.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“This is very important,” said Josh Hart, who buried a dagger 3-pointer in Game 6 at Wells Fargo Arena. “Being a new team, we are trying to find our rhythm, especially on the defensive side. So we have to keep working and keep building, especially against a team like that. With Joel coming back; It's going to be a good test, but obviously it's a tough environment. So it's going to be a good test for us. I think that's the biggest thing, considering the talent they have.”
Karl-Anthony Towns is a rookie, but he and Embiid bring history to this rivalry.
Both were represented by Leon Rose in 2019, but he was sent off after getting into a scuffle on the court. Afterwards, Embiid took to social media to call Towns a “shithole” and a “shithole.”
Embiid posted at the time, “I've been working really hard and before I talk, I want us to make the playoffs.'' “It's no secret that I belong to you.”
That was five years ago, but Towns said he wasn't concerned about Embiid.
“I'm just concerned that we're trying to win,” the Knicks center said. “Those things don't mean anything. What they mean to me is that they show up in the left column. That's all that matters to all of us. We need to find a way to win and win every night. Put ourselves in a good position and use these learning experiences to make us a better team.”
Embiid has yet to play this season due to load management and because he was suspended for three games for shoving a reporter.
