The Knicks were without Derrick Rose – and a pulse.
This pandemic season finally shattered the Knicks on Tuesday, with Rose’s COVID-19 absence showing 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 – fell through a knee sprain, COVID-19 protocols and was pulled out of the rotation.
The Frenchman became the Knicks’ starting point guard on Tuesday in San Antonio, and that will likely be in the foreseeable future.
Although Ntilikina maintained its end of the win with 13 points, 5 of 7 from the field and 3 of 3 from the three-point series, the undermined Knicks were terrible in the second half, and their try-winning streak is in a ugly funny point cut. 119-93 loss at AT&T Center.
“You get what you deserve,” Tom Thibodeau said.
The Knicks, who dropped to 0.500 at the center of the season at 18-18, learned before the game that Rose would be indefinite for COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
The Knicks did not want to say whether Rose tested positive for COVID-19 or if anyone came across the virus, but two players – Julius Randle and Ntilikina – made references to his test results.
“I found out when I was about to shoot before the game,” Randle said. “He looked amazing. This protocol. He looked good. So I’m not worried about that [it]. This is just the way it is with testing. It’s not perfect, but it’s happening, and we need to adapt to it. ‘
That would likely mean Rose is out until after the All Star break. The Knicks end the first half Thursday against Detroit. Thibodeau said he has no roster.
“Before the game we were at the arena,” said Ntilikina. “Then I discovered what happened to the test, and I started.”
The Knicks looked tired on the defensive side and had the Spurs drill 7 of 14 3-points in the third quarter to crush them 36-21 in the period. That dropped them to 19 points after three quarters, 81-62, and they fell behind by 27 in the fourth.
“Probably the first game we had so honestly,” Randle said. “Throw it in the trash and get back to work.”
While Austin Rivers was deep in Thibodeau’s dog house, Ntilikina was anointed as the appetizer over newcomer Immanuel Quickley.
“I tried to keep the second unit together as much as possible,” Thibodeau said. ‘And the size of their point guard [DeJounte Murray] also included in it. ”
Quickley got hot in the trash and finished with a team high of 26 points, scoring 6 of 13 3-points.
Rose would begin her fourth consecutive game on Tuesday because the original starter, Elfrid Payton, is not yet with a thigh muscle. It does not look like Payton will be back until after the weekend break. He missed 18 games last season with a hamstring strain.
Rose’s situation is also uncertain. Protocols usually mean that a player is away from the team for a week, perhaps longer if he tests positive.
The Knicks’ sluggish play began late in the first half after blowing a six-point lead. San Antonio’s Patty Mills was wide open to hit a desperate try from the corner at the buzz of an incoming pass. This put San Antonio ahead 51-47 at halftime.
“I think we could have done more,” Ntilikina said.
Randle was held on 14 points, with 11 rebounds and five assists, and played just 30 minutes and came to rest in the fourth time. He shot just 6 of 16 from the field – 1 of 5 from 3. RJ Barrett added 15 points and also sat out most of the final period.
It was more about the Knicks’ defensive fall after joining the NBA’s second-best defense that night. The Spurs sank 18 three-pointers on 42 attempts.
Thibodeau, who continued to call fierce time-outs in the second half, said it was a compilation of things we needed to do better, ‘adding:’ Restraining the ball, moving on the flight of the ball and challenge the shot. ‘
Gregg Popovich’s Spurs, after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 1997, are back as a force and move to 18-13, despite missing star LaMarcus Aldridge, with a stomach virus.
The Knicks have remained the biggest COVID-19 editions for most of the season. The Spurs did not. San Antonio postponed its scheduled game against the Knicks last month due to COVID-19 issues.
“You hope for the best and prepare for the worst,” Thibodeau said. “This is where we are currently in the league with all the health and safety protocol.”
But now things are catching up with the Knicks because they want to survive without their leading two-point guards.