The Knicks limped into the NBA All-Star break after losing five of their last six games, the final defeat to the Orlando Magic by 118-100 on the road on Valentine’s Day before a seven-day respite. They get back to their regular season schedule tonight in Philadelphia, taking on the 76ers.
First-time All-Star Jalen Brunson was the only Knicks regular starter to play against the Magic. Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder, OG Anunoby—right elbow surgery), Mitch Robinson (left ankle surgery in December), and Donte DiVincenzo (right hamstring strain) were all out. So was center Isaiah Hartenstein (left Achilles soreness), who has been exceptional in replacing Robinson in the starting lineup. Add newly acquired Bojan Bogdanovic to those who missed the game versus the Magic, and it explains why the Knicks were a shell of themselves.
Before their slide, clearly due to injuries, the Knicks had won 16 of 19 games since the December 31 trade with the Toronto Raptors that brought them Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, with other assets for both teams being exchanged.
The Knicks go into tonight’s game at 33-22 and as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. They have 27 regular season games remaining, with eight of their next 10 at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks are 19-8, the third-best home mark in the East behind the 26-3 Boston Celtics and 23-7 Milwaukee Bucks, the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds in the conference, respectively.
On Tuesday, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said DiVincenzo, Hartenstein, and Bogdanovic are expected to be back tonight.
“I’m basing that on practice today,” he said. “We’ll see how they feel tomorrow.”
Anunoby had what is characterized as cleanup surgery on his right elbow two weeks ago and will be reevaluated in roughly one week. “Yeah, it really sucks,” Anunoby said on Tuesday. “But I’m feeling better and better.”
The Knicks are hopeful Robinson could return sometime next month. As for Randle, Thibodeau expressed a promising outlook on Tuesday. “He’s doing well overall,” Thibodeau said. “He hasn’t been cleared to practice yet (but he’s) meeting all of the markers.”
The left-handed Randle, who was named to his third straight East All-Star team this season, has been out since dislocating his right shoulder on January 27 in a 125-109 Knicks win at home over the Miami Heat. Tonight will be the Knicks’ 10th consecutive game without Randle, who is averaging 24.0 points and 9.2 rebounds.