Quentin Grimes’ string of 14 consecutive starts got here to an end on Wednesday due to a sprained right ankle. While the second-year guard said on Tuesday night he was high quality after landing awkwardly on Warriors guard Ty Jerome, it worsened overnight and he was held out of the sport after testing it beforehand.
“I don’t think it’s anything long run,” coach Tom Thibodeau said before the Knicks’ eight-game winning streak was snapped by the Raptors, 113-106, on the Garden.
Grimes missed just about all of coaching camp and the primary month of the regular season as a result of a sore left foot. Immanuel Quickley began in his place and scored 20 points while hitting six 3-pointers.
Grimes meant so much to the Knicks throughout the winning streak, averaging 13.3 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 45.7 percent from 3-point range and notching a 21.1 NET rating, meaning the Knicks were outscoring the opposition by 21.1 points per 100 possessions when he was on the ground.
“I feel he’s a crucial player, because he’s a robust two-way player,” Thibodeau said. “But someone’s out injured, next guy, get in there and get the job done.”
Thibodeau said he was uncertain if Grimes could be available for Friday’s game against the Bulls on the Garden. He did like how Quickley played.
Quickley has hit 11 3-pointers within the last two games after making just nine of his previous 37 within the six contests preceding them
“I believed ‘Quick’ gave us a extremely solid game. Really solid,” Thibodeau said. “He’s been playing well, too. So, I feel the best way he’s shooting the ball, we knew that will come around for him. He’s not hesitating. He’s letting it go.”
Thibodeau closed with Isaiah Hartenstein over Mitchell Robinson. Robinson was laboring and Thibodeau just stuck with Hartenstein because he felt the group on the ground was playing well.
With Grimes out, Derrick Rose received his first rotational minutes since Dec. 3. He had two points in eight minutes off the bench. … The Raptors were without Precious Achiuwa (ankle), Gary Trent Jr. (quad) and Otto Porter Jr. (toe).