With an injury report lengthening by the day, Tuesday at Madison Square Garden was a day for Knicks updates.
The Knicks were without Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Quentin Grimes, Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims for their matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Here are the updates head coach Tom Thibodeau provided ahead of tipoff.
MITCHELL ROBINSON
Tom Thibodeau said Robinson is progressing well after undergoing ankle surgery that was initially feared to keep him out the entirety of the regular season.
Robinson is now expected to return to on-court activities after the mid-February NBA All-Star break. The Knicks are optimistic about his odds of returning to action before the playoffs begin in April.
Robinson took what he described as “a wrong step” in the Knicks’ Dec. 8 loss to the Boston Celtics and underwent surgery in mid-December to repair what the team called a stress fracture in his left ankle.
“[He’s] doing better and better, progressing, and It think probably right after the all star break, he’ll start to do activities on the court,” Thibodeau said ahead of tipoff against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. “So we’re very pleased with how it’s coming along. So it’s positive.”
Thibodeau thoroughly detailed Robinson’s rehab process, which includes exercises in the pool and on the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill before a return to weightlifting.
“Then they’ll clear him to get onto the court with form shooting and that sort of thing, then he’ll progress to the running part, the jumping part,” Thibodeau said. “Then you start off 1-on-0 and then 1-on-1, 2-on-2, so there’s a progression to where you get to the 5-on-5 and then you’re cleared for practice/“
Thibodeau said Robinson is currently doing limited form shooting but the team is trusting his rehab process, however long it may be.
“We have to go step by step, just follow the medical protocol until he’s cleared to start running, and that’ll probably be right after [the] All-Star [break],” he said. “You have to trust your medical and you have to trust the player, so we’re not gonna out him in harms way. We’re gonna make sure that he’s completely healthy before he gets out there.”
OG ANUNOBY
Anunoby missed his fifth straight game with what the team is calling inflammation in his right, shooting elbow. Thibodeau didn’t offer much information on the status of Anunoby’s injury and continued to insist the forward is day-to-day, even though he is going on missing two weeks of action.
“Not quite sure. He had some soreness initially,” Thibodeau said ahead of tipoff against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. “Most guys at this time of the year, 50 games in, you’re dealign with something, so everyone has something right now.
“When I have more, we’ll give it to you.”
QUENTIN GRIMES
Grimes missed his third straight game with a sprained right knee.
Thibodeau said Grimes and Anunoby are day-to-day “until we clear them.”
JERICHO SIMS
Backup Knicks big man Jericho Sims participated in shoot-around Tuesday morning but missed the matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
“Just not feeling well,” Thibodeau said.
WHAT NOW?
With their slew of injuries, the Knicks will continue to lean on Isaiah Hartenstein, Precious Achiuwa and Josh Hart as reserves who have been thrust into the starting lineup.
The Knicks entered Tuesday’s matchup against the Grizzlies with a 3-1 record in games Anunoby and Randle have missed due to injury.
“Mitch got hurt and Isaiah went in and has done a terrific job,” Thibodeau said. “Precious came in and initially was’t playing a lot, now he’s playing a lot and he’s playing well. So whoever that next guy is, get in there and play well and get the job done. We have big belief in all the guys on our roster.”
