Austin Rivers, who described his future with the Knicks as uncertain, was not seen on the bench during a 110-107 victory Saturday morning in the Garden.
Rivers was taken out of the rotation when the Knicks acquired Derrick Rose in a trade earlier this month. Then, in another bad turn, Rivers are bypassed for Frank Ntilikina in Thursday’s win over the Kings after Elfrid Payton came down with a thigh muscle injury.
A Knicks official said Rivers was in the yard but back in treatment for a sore ankle. Rivers was not listed in the NBA game injury report. On the leaderboard, Rivers was listed with the decision of a DNP coach.
Earlier this week, Rivers said of his situation: ‘I can not control whether I trade today, tomorrow or the next day. What I can control is how I am as a player. ‘
Rivers have scored a total of five minutes in stoppage time over the past nine games. Against Sacramento, he was the lone Knick for not playing in the game.
Interestingly, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said that President Leon Rose, after Taj Gibson swung an ankle during Saturday’s game, said that President Leon Rose “will look at players who are available.” The Knicks may be able to dispense with a player to sign a center.
Rivers was signed in November for a three-year deal, but only the first was guaranteed. He played in 21 games.