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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Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) is available for Wednesday's meeting with the Indiana Pacers. The former Phoenix Sun has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. However, his absence in Monday's loss to Chicago was only his first of the 2024-25 campaign. Johnson has also averaged a career-high 18.1 points while shooting 42.2% from deep. With Cam Thomas (hamstring) sidelined, Johnson should continue to get more scoring opportunities than usual against an Indiana team that has allowed 119.1 points per game this season, the third-worst mark in the National Basketball Association.
Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (back) will suit up for Wednesday's contest against the Lakers. Battling back spasms, Love sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Monday versus Boston. Love's contributions have been limited to 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds this season. He only plays around 12 minutes per game, so Love remains a good per-minute performer, but the veteran doesn't have a big enough role on the team to be relevant in fantasy basketball on most nights.
Brooklyn Nets forwardDorian Finney-Smith(ankle) is unavailable for Tuesday's matchup with the Indiana Pacers due to a sprained left ankle. The 31-year-old will miss his fourth consecutive game. This season, he has been a key rotational piece for the Nets, averaging 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists across 29 minutes per contest. With Finney-Smith sidelined, Jalen Wilsonis expected to remain in the starting lineup.
According to Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, the team isn't planning on keeping center Joel Embiid (knee) out beyond what is necessary. The 30-year-old has appeared in only four games this season. However, there hasn't been much update regarding his health, so fantasy managers remain in the dark regarding when they can expect to see him back on the court. With Andre Drummond (ankle) sidelined, Philadelphia will likely continue to rely on Guerschon Yabusele, who has averaged 10.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in six starts during the 2024-25 campaign. Adem Bona should also continue to see more minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) is good to go for Wednesday's clash against Atlanta. Per Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Bucks head coach Doc River has confirmed Antetokounmpo will be available for the contest after the team listed him as probable on the injury report. The former MVP is coming off a 28-point performance against Detroit on Tuesday night, which included seven rebounds, eight assists, and one block in 28 minutes. Antetokounmpo didn't play his full minutes against the Pistons and, thus, should be fresh for Wednesday's contest. Last season, the Hawks had no idea what to do against Antetokounmpo, who averaged 31.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 2.0 steals in the matchup.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) will play against the Lakers on Wednesday. Miami gets its veteran star back after Butler sat out Monday's clash against Boston. He started to feel soreness in his right knee during Sunday's meeting with Toronto and was rested for the second night of a back-to-back. Butler's recent performances have been inconsistent, but there are two 30-point efforts among his most recent five appearances. The Lakers are ranked 24th in defensive efficiency, giving Butler another opportunity to fill it up on Wednesday.
Miami Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic (ankle) will rejoin the lineup for Wednesday's clash against the Lakers. He's missed five games with an ankle sprain and was also ruled out for Wednesday's contest on the initial injury report, but Jovic has apparently made big progress in his recovery over the last 24 hours. The 21-year-old has an inconsistent role with the Heat, averaging 18.2 minutes with eight starts in 14 appearances this season. He has notched 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (knee) will remain sidelined for a second consecutive game on Wednesday versus Detroit. This opens an opportunity for Payton Pritchard to play a major role in the contest. He finished with 25 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block as Boston defeated Miami 108-89 on Monday. At the same time, Drew Peterson has been a fresh face in the Celtics rotation lately and might be looking at another opportunity to log 25-plus minutes. However, he hasn't been very impactful for Boston.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. Middleton, who is 33 years old, has yet to make his season debut, though he has been cleared for 5-on-5 scrimmaging. The team has not provided a specific timeline for his return, but his next opportunity to play will be Friday against the Boston Celtics. Fantasy managers are eager for Middleton to rejoin the lineup, as he remains a valuable all-around contributor despite a slight decline in scoring. Last season, he averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 49.3% from the field.
According to ESPN reporter Ohm Youngmisuk, Los Angeles Clippers guard/forwardNorman Powell(hamstring) will be unavailable Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After recently missing six games with a left hamstring strain, Powell has the night off for the second half of a back-to-back set. He scored 30 points one day ago in Tuesday's 127-105 victory over the Trail Blazers. Terance Mann(finger) andKevin Porter(back) will also be sidelined on Wednesday.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (knee) will not play on Wednesday against Detroit. He's nursing an issue with his kneecap, sitting out his first game of the season. Tatum's absence boosts the usage of the rest of the Celtics starters, with Sam Hauser and Al Horford getting a chance to play larger roles for the team. Boston remains a -12.5 favorite for the contest, meaning there should be plenty of opportunities for the entire rotation.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (rest) will sit out Wednesday's matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. Nembhard has recently returned from a 12-game absence, playing in back-to-back contests, including a 19-minute outing against Toronto where he tallied six points and four assists. Wednesday will serve as a rest day as the team eases him back into action. In his absence, Quenton Jackson and T.J. McConnell could see more opportunities. So far this season, Nembhard has averaged 7.9 points, 4.6 assists, 1.0 steal, and 24.4 minutes per game.
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (rest) will sit out Wednesday's game against the Boston Celtics after playing 14 minutes in Tuesday's contest against the Bucks, where he contributed eight points and five rebounds. The Pistons are holding him out for injury maintenance, giving Ron Holland and Simone Fontecchio a chance to see additional minutes. Thompson, in his second year, has played just five games this season, averaging 15.2 minutes and 6.0 points per game, leaving fantasy managers hopeful for improvement as he regains full health.
Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris (hamstring) will remain sidelined for Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Harris has not played since November 25 and does not yet have a clear timetable for his return. The 30-year-old plays a minor rotational role for the Magic, averaging 16.5 minutes and 4.1 points per game this season. In his last appearance, he logged seven minutes and scored three points against Charlotte.
According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, Philadelphia 76ers forwardPaul George (rest) will not play against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The 34-year-old posted 29 points in Tuesday's NBA Cup victory over the Charlotte Hornets. He also played 37 minutes, so the team is staying cautious by sitting him in the second game of a back-to-back. WithJoel Embiid(knee, personal) also out,Tyrese Maxeycould receive more scoring opportunities.Jared McCainmay also move back to the starting lineup and should likely see an uptick in fantasy production.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced forward Zion Williamson (hamstring) is progressing well through rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Barring any setbacks and with a tentative timeline in place, the 24-year-old could return on December 19th versus the Houston Rockets. The Pelicans may continue to proceed cautiously and not rush Williamson back, though. However, the team is desperate for help, sitting in last place in the Western Conference, with several injured players.
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.
