Knicks getting back to business, host Hornets
Wed Dec 4 3:41pm ET
Field Level Media
A knockout round berth in the NBA Cup isn't cause for celebration in New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau's orbit.
Thibodeau maintained focus on New York being ready to play when the visiting Charlotte Hornets come to the Garden on Thursday night.
The Knicks completed a 4-0 run through East Group A of the in-season tournament by cruising to a 121-106 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. Karl-Anthony Towns (23 points) and Jalen Brunson (21) headlined a balanced offensive attack that featured six scorers in double figures.
New York, the No. 2 seed in the East quarterfinals of the Cup, will have to wait until next Wednesday to get its hands on the Atlanta Hawks, in a matchup that Thibodeau doesn't mind tossing on the backburner for now.
"Just worried about Charlotte," Thibodeau said.
What has caught Thibodeau's attention is his team's ball movement as of late, as the Knicks have racked up 30 assists in each of their past two games. They finished with only 20 when they edged Charlotte 99-98 last Friday.
"I love how unselfish we were," Thibodeau said after New York's performance on Tuesday. "I thought we made great reads. When we got into the paint, just making the extra pass, creating the right space and then cutting which got us going downhill.
"When you do that, everyone finds rhythm and you're finding good shots. You're creating good shots for each other. And that's everyone working together."
The Hornets didn't fare as well on Tuesday, falling 110-104 to the Philadelphia 76ers. It marked Charlotte's sixth straight loss, with five of those setbacks coming by six points or fewer.
Hornets coach Charles Lee is hoping that his team can get off to a faster start on Thursday after trailing by as many as 18 in the first half of the meeting with Philadelphia.
"For most of those games (during the losing streak), we were in the lead or right there. I just didn't think that from the jump we were ready to hoop (Tuesday)," Lee said. "I thought that Philadelphia, their physicality kind of took us out of our rhythm offensively. ... In the second half, we do what we usually do.
"We competed a lot harder, we were a lot sharper and we gave ourselves a chance, but you have to be ready to play in the first half."
Brandon Miller has been on a tear during the Hornets' skid, posting averages of 26.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists over the past six games. Charlotte has been leaning on the second-year man ever since star guard LaMelo Ball went down with a calf strain that is expected to sideline him for two weeks.
Vasilije Micic has been filling in for Ball and has delivered 9.7 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game in his three starts.
The loss on Friday was the Hornets' fifth straight against the Knicks. Charlotte has not beaten New York since March 7, 2023.
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Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports that Los Angeles Lakers guardAustin Reaves (pelvis) will not suit up against the Miami Heat on Wednesday due to a left pelvic contusion. It will be the third game in a row that the 26-year-old has missed. Point guard D'Angelo Russell will likely be in the starting five with Reaves sidelined after he logged 20 points, three rebounds, five assists, and one steal across 34 minutes during Monday's 109-80 loss to Minnesota.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Phoenix Suns forwardKevin Durant(ankle) has been diagnosed with a left ankle sprain and will miss at least three games. Durant will be re-evaluated in a week after suffering the injury while landing on a Spurs player's foot during Phoenix's win on Tuesday night. The Suns have struggled when the 36-year-old has been unavailable, posting a record of 1-6.Bradley BealandDevin Booker will be relied upon to step up offensively in Durant's absence, while Grayson Allen will see an uptick in playing time, too.
New York Knicks forward/center Precious Achiuwa (hamstring) is getting close to his season debut. Per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has said that Achiuwa could return to the court "in a week or so." The Nigerian big man suffered a left hamstring strain just before the 2024-25 campaign kicked off. After arriving from Toronto in a mid-season trade, Achiuwa notched 7.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in 24.2 minutes with the Knicks last term. He will likely have a smaller workload this season but will be a valuable backup to Karl-Anthony Towns, and the two might even share the court occasionally.
Los Angeles Lakers power forward Jarred Vanderbilt (knee) will not make his season debut until at least early January. A foot injury has kept Vanderbilt off the court since February, and he recently experienced fluid in his left knee during his rehabilitation. Before exiting the lineup, Vanderbilt was a solid contributor in the Lakers rotation, averaging 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 20.0 minutes last season. He should be around the same numbers again once he returns to action, but considering his lengthy absence, Vanderbilt might need quite a bit of time to get back into rhythm.
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (ankle) is considered questionable for Wednesday's matchup against Philadelphia. He was a late scratch for Tuesday's NBA Cup action versus the Knicks and might have to sit out another one with an ankle sprain. Tristan Da Silva jumped into the starting unit on Tuesday. The 23-year-old rookie has seen quite regular action as a starter but hasn't been very effective, at least from a fantasy perspective. In 14 starts, da Silva has averaged 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. Meanwhile, Moritz Wagner had additional work without Bitadze, impressing with a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double off the bench. He might be a good fantasy option again on Wednesday if Bitadze doesn't return.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (knee) has been listed as questionable for Wednesday's contest against Detroit. He might be out for a second consecutive game due to a knee issue. Holiday has recently had a pretty poor stretch offensively and could benefit from having some time off. He has shot just 30 percent from the field in his past four appearances, averaging 7.3 points. With Holiday out of the rotation, Payton Pritchard popped off for a big 25-point night in 33 minutes on Monday against Miami. He's sure to do damage again on Wednesday if Holiday is out.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (knee) is in danger of missing his first contest of the season, as the team has listed him as questionable for Wednesday's encounter with Detroit. The Celtics superstar is dealing with right kneecap pain. Tatum was also questionable ahead of Monday's matchup against Miami but ended up logging his usual 36 minutes in the game. His shot was off during an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double performance. Al Horford and Sam Hauser will be candidates to replace Tatum in the starting unit if he can't go on Wednesday.
Knicks' F Josh Hart recorded a triple-double, finishing with 11 points, 10 assists and 13 rebounds in a 121-106 win over the Magic on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (illness) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's match-up against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 31-year-old guard is at risk of missing another game after sitting out recent contests due to illness. Before his absence, he had seen a reduced role, averaging 18.8 minutes per game across eight appearances this season. His most recent game was on November 18th, when he played 14 minutes and scored four points against the 76ers. Richardson's playing time remains uncertain, even if he is available to play on Wednesday.
Miami Heat forward Kevin Love (back) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Love has missed two of the Heat's past four games due to a back issue and could remain sidelined for this matchup. At 36 years old, the veteran forward has played a limited role this season, averaging 12.3 minutes per game while mixing in both starts and bench appearances. Despite his limited minutes, Love has remained productive, averaging 5.6 rebounds per game and shooting 39.4% from three-point range. Fantasy managers should monitor his status leading up to Wednesday's game.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Butler sat out Monday's contest in Boston after experiencing soreness in his right knee during Sunday's loss to Toronto. The 35-year-old is a key player for the Heat, averaging 31.9 minutes per game and 18.9 points, while shooting an efficient 53.8% from the field. Butler's all-around game would be crucial in Miami's match-up against the Lakers. Fantasy managers should check his status closer to tip-off on Wednesday.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (ankle) won't return to Tuesday's meeting with the San Antonio Spurs. The veteran was playing well, logging 13 points while making both of his three point attempts. He tweaked his ankle in the first half and was ruled out shortly after. He recently returned from a seven-game absence because of a calf injury, so fantasy managers could see him miss more time. If that's the case, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal should pick up some of the slack on the scoring end. Royce O'Neale, averaging 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in two starts this season, may take Durant's spot in the rotation until he's ready to return.
According to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, center Joel Embiid (knee, personal) is not expected to play in Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic. At this point, fantasy managers are left scratching their heads regarding his availability. For now, it appears the 30-year-old is in line to miss his 14th game of the 2024-25 campaign. With uncertainty surrounding the health of Andre Drummond (ankle), Guerschon Yabusele, who had nine points with 12 boards, one steal, and one block in Tuesday's NBA Cup win over the Hornets, could remain in the starting lineup.
According to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, forward Paul George may miss Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic. The veteran had 29 points in Tuesday's NBA Cup victory over the Charlotte Hornets. He also logged 37 minutes, so the team may play it safe by sitting him in the second game of a back-to-back. With Joel Embiid (knee, personal) likely to remain off the floor, Tyrese Maxey could receive significantly more scoring opportunities. Jared McCain may also move back to the starting lineup and should also see an uptick in fantasy production.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (thumb) is set to make his return Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns after missing the team's last 13 games recovering from left thumb surgery. He is expected to come off the bench and may see limited minutes as he eases back into action. In seven appearances this season, Sochan has been a valuable contributor, averaging 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and shooting 51.2% from the field over 29.3 minutes per game. His presence and athleticism will be a welcome boost for the Spurs, and fantasy managers will be eager to see if he can maintain his efficiency following his return.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's matchup against the Indiana Pacers due to a left ankle sprain. If Johnson is unable to suit up, Tyrese Martin could see an increased role and potentially draw another start. Johnson has been an important contributor for the Nets, averaging 18.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. In his most recent outing against Orlando, he delivered an impressive 26 points in 36 minutes. Fantasy managers will want to monitor his status, as a return would provide a significant boost to their lineups.
Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Indiana Pacers as he deals with a sprained left ankle. The 31-year-old is at risk of missing his fourth consecutive game. Finney-Smith has been a key rotational piece for Brooklyn this season, averaging 29 minutes and 10.7 points per game. If he is ruled out, Jalen Wilson is expected to remain in the starting lineup. Fantasy managers will want to check on his status closer to tip-off on Wednesday.
Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (back) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup against the Indiana Pacers, but reports indicate he is expected to play. Simmons sat out Monday's game against the Bulls for back injury management, but the team seems hopeful about his availability. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status ahead of tip-off. In his most recent appearance against the Orlando Magic, the veteran guard logged 12 minutes, dishing out five assists but going scoreless.
Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (knee) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Indiana Pacers. The 23-year-old will miss his second consecutive game after sustaining a knee injury during Sunday's matchup with the Magic. Williams has been a reliable rotational piece for the Nets this season, averaging 21.8 minutes and 8.6 points per game. Tyrese Martin may see an increase in playing time as a result. Williams' next opportunity to return will be Sunday against the Bucks.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (Achilles) is listed as probable for Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to right Achilles tendinitis. The All-Star point guard has been a standout playmaker this season, leading the league with 12.2 assists per game while also contributing 20.9 points per contest. Young continues to stuff the stat sheet, including an impressive 15-assist performance in Monday's game against the Pelicans. If he takes the court as expected, fantasy managers can count on his elite production.
