The Knicks had no Derrick Rose – and no pulse.
The pandemic season finally crushed the Knicks on Tuesday and demonstrated how a player can go from invisible to prominent in the blink of an eye.
Just a week ago, Frank Ntilikina had not played since the end of December – he fell through a knee sprain, COVID-19 protocols and was pulled out of the rotation.
Tuesday in San Antonio, the Frenchman became the titular owner of the Knicks and perhaps in the near future.
Although Ntilikina kept her share of the bargain with 13 points, 5 out of 7 on the field and 3 out of 3 on the 3 point line, the Knicks failed to compete in the second half and their streak of three straight wins was a massive 119- 93 at AT&T Center.
“You get what you deserve,” said Tom Thibodeau. “It is disappointing how we play. ”
The Knicks looked tired on the defensive end and allowed the Spurs to punch 7 of 14 points out of 3 in the third quarter to crush them 36-21 in the period. As a result, they lost 19 points after three quarters, 81-62, and fell behind 27 in the fourth period. Spurs finished with 17 points out of 3 points.
The Knicks, who dropped to 0.500 (18-18) at the midpoint of the season, learned before the game that their new starting point guard, Rose, would be out indefinitely for the COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
The Knicks did not say whether Rose had tested positive for COVID-19 or found a person with the virus.
This will likely mean that Rose is out until after the All-Star break. The Knicks finish the first half Thursday against Detroit.
With Austin Rivers at Tom Thibodeau’s dog house, Ntilikina was elected as the starter over newcomer Immanuel Quickley.
“It’s situational,” said Thibodeau of Rivers. “He has to keep working. ”
When pressed, Thibodeau said that Rivers also has “an ankle problem”. (Rivers did not appear in the injury report).
Quickley got hot at the time of the trash and ended with the team’s best score 23 points, making 6 out of 12 points out of 3.
Rose was due to start her fourth straight game on Tuesday because her original holder, Elfrid Payton, is still out with a hamstring injury. It doesn’t look like Payton will be back before a week’s break. He lost 18 games last season with a hamstring injury.
Despite the lack of Rose and Payton, Rivers was not put back in the rotation and did not play. The Post reported that Rivers was not on the bench for Saturday’s game after hinting it could be traded soon, and the Knicks said he was in the locker room receiving ankle treatment. They could have used their experienced veteran Tuesday.
Rose’s situation is also uncertain. Typically, protocols mean that a player is out of the team for a week, perhaps more if the test is positive.
The Knicks’ loose game started at the end of the first half, after they lost a six-point lead. Patty Mills from San Antonio was left open to hit a desperate corner 3 after the buzzer of a pass on the pitch. This gave San Antonio a 51-47 lead at half-time and all the momentum.
Julius Randle scored 14 points with 11 rebounds and five assists and was able to rest in the fourth. RJ Barrett made another solid score game with 15 points, also winning a spot in the final period.
This was more about the Knicks’ defensive lapses after entering the night as the NBA’s second best defense.
Gregg Popovich’s Spurs, after losing the playoffs for the first time since 1997, is back as a force, moving to 18-13, even without losing star LaMarcus Aldridge with a stomach virus.
The Knicks did not face any major problems with the COVID-19 for most of the season. Spurs don’t. In fact, San Antonio postponed its scheduled game against the Knicks last month because of problems with COVID-19.
But now things are catching up with the Knicks, who are looking to survive without their two main shipowners.