Quentin Grimes didn’t practice Tuesday as a result of nagging soreness in his left foot, knocking him out of the Knicks’ season opener Wednesday in Memphis.
Grimes, who officially was listed as “out” on the NBA’s every day injury report, appeared in a single preseason game, playing quarter-hour in Friday’s win over the Wizards.
Obi Toppin also had been limited in practice earlier this week with an ankle issue from the sport against Washington, but he was a full participant in Tuesday’s practice in Tarrytown and will probably be available.
“I believe Obi, barring something unexpected, is a go. Because he did every part and he felt nice,” Tom Thibodeau said a number of hours before the determination on Grimes was revealed. “I’m just waiting to be updated on Quentin. … There’s soreness, so we’ll see where he’s. He’ll visit with the medical people after [practice] and we’ll go from there.”
Thibodeau said on the outset of camp that he expected Evan Fournier to open the season because the starting shooting guard, but Grimes said last week that he’d hoped to compete for the spot before the foot injury set him back and limited him throughout the preseason.
Grimes’ absence could open rotation minutes for Cam Reddish or Miles McBride within the opener, although Thibodeau also could utilize nine players somewhat than the ten he often prefers.
“We could, depending on what’s occurring in the sport. We now have different guys on the bench which have different strengths,” Thibodeau said. “So depending on the matchup, what’s occurring will probably determine who gets in there.”
The opener will pit the NBA’s top two offensive rebounders from last season against one another, centers Steven Adams (4.6 offensive boards per game) and Mitchell Robinson (4.1).
“I believe all of us see the expansion in Mitch and where he’s,” Thibodeau said. “Steven Adams has done it for a very long time, big body, and he knows carve out space. Terrific, like, multiple effort, back-tip guy, also. So we all know we gotta keep a body on him.”