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Injury concern for Knicks iron man Josh Hart

Per the NY Post:

It is always surprising — even jarring — to see Josh Hart come out of a game, especially during the playoffs.

Asking out is something else entirely.

The Knicks’ iron man suffered an injury to his abdominal area Friday night in the first quarter of a series-tying 116-103 loss in Game 6 against the Pacers.

Hart, who already has played four complete games in the Knicks’ first 12 of the postseason, even appeared to motion to the bench to be removed nearly midway through the third quarter.

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Pacers win at home, force a Game 7 with Knicks

Per the Indianapolis Star:

After a miserable performance in Game 5 put them on the brink of elimination, the Pacers dominated in all the areas they flopped on Tuesday, pounding the Knicks 116-103 in Game 6 on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to tie the series 3-3 and force a Game 7.

The deciding game will be played at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The winner plays the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals…

The Knicks decision to go small starting in Game 5 with Miles McBride inserted into the starting lineup and Josh Hart moved from small to power forward gave the Pacers an obvious size advantage in the frontcourt. They didn’t exploit it nearly as much as they intended to in Game 5, but it Game 6 they had a lot more opportunities and they took advantage.

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Knicks trade Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono to Pistons for Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks

The Detroit Pistons have acquired guard Quentin Grimes, forward Evan Fournier, guards Malachi Flynn and Ryan Arcidiacono, two future second round draft picks and cash considerations in a trade with the New York Knicks for forward Bojan Bogdanovic and guard Alec Burks.

Grimes, 6-5, 205, has appeared in 45 games (18 starts) for the Knicks this season while averaging 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.2 minutes. The 25th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Grimes has appeared in 162 games (90 starts) over three seasons with New York, holding career averages of 8.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting .436 from the field and .379 from 3-point range. The Houston, Texas, native played one season at the University of Kansas before transferring to the University of Houston. Grimes averaged 17.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in his junior season for the Cougars and was named 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Fournier, 6-6, 205, is a 12-year NBA veteran. He has appeared in 675 career games (504 starts) for Denver, Orlando, Boston and New York. Drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Fournier holds career averages 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting .442 from the field and .378 from 3-point range. Fournier spent three seasons with the Knicks, averaging 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 26.0 minutes per game. The Saint-Maurice, France, native has won a silver medal for the French national team in the 2020 Summer Olympics and two bronze medals in the 2014 and 2019 FIBA World Cups.

Flynn, 6-1, 175, has appeared in 45 games this season averaging 4.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 11.9 minutes for the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors. A four-year NBA veteran, Flynn played four seasons for the Toronto Raptors (2020-23) before being traded to the Knicks on Dec. 30, 2023. The Tacoma, Wash., native played two seasons collegiately at Washington State before transferring to San Diego State. The No. 29 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Flynn was named Second Team All-American, Mountain West Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the year in his senior year at San Diego State.

Arcidiacono, 6-3, 195, is in his seventh NBA season. In 257 career NBA games, he’s averaged 4.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists with Chicago, New York and Portland. The Philadelphia, Pa., native played four seasons at Villanova University (2012-16) where he helped the wildcats to the 2016 NCAA championship. Arcidiacono was named 2015 Big East Player of the Year and crowned Most Outstanding Player in the 2016 NCAA tournament. Undrafted in 2016, Arcidiacono signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls prior to the 2017-18 season.

Bogdanovic, 6-7, 226, appeared in 87 games (86 starts) for Detroit, averaging 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting .481 from the field and .413 from 3-point range across two seasons. Bogdanovic was acquired via trade from the Utah Jazz on Sept. 22, 2022. He holds career averages of 15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 690 career games.

Burks, 6-6, 214, appeared in 94 games for Detroit over two seasons, averaging 12.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting .416 from the field and .407 from 3-point range. Burks was acquired via trade from the New York Knicks on July 11, 2022. He holds career averages of 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 719 career games.

Knicks sign Miles McBride to contract extension

The New York Knicks have signed guard Miles McBride to a contract extension.

Per the NY Post:

Miles McBride agreed to a three-year, $13 million extension, multiple sources confirmed to The Post.

The deal is fully guaranteed and frontloaded, decreasing in annual salary each year, which helps McBride from a cash value standpoint, sources said.

McBride, a defensive-minded point guard, has been used sparingly since getting drafted 36th overall in 2021.

But he should get an increased role after the team dealt Immanuel Quickley in a package to Toronto, leaving McBride as probably the first backup point guard after Jalen Brunson.

McBride, 23-years-old (6-1, 195-pounds), is averaging 1.9 points (50-percent FG; 41.2-percent 3PT) in 18 games for the New York Knicks this season. He holds career averages of 2.8 points and 1.0 assists over 10.0 minutes per game in 122 games (four starts) in parts of three seasons with the Knicks. McBride is also averaging 19.0 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds in two games this season for the Westchester Knicks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks.

The Cincinnati, OH-native, was originally selected by Oklahoma City with the 36th pick of the 2020 NBA draft before being traded to the New York Knicks. A two-year standout at West Virginia, McBride recorded 12.6 points, 3.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds over 28.0 minutes in 60 games (30 starts). He was also named to the 2020-21 All-Big 12 Second Team and the 2019-20 Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

Knicks trade RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley to Raptors for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn

The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday that they have acquired guard Immanuel Quickley, guard-forward RJ Barrett and a 2024 second-round draft pick (via Detroit) from the New York Knicks in exchange for guard-forward OG Anunoby, forward Precious Achiuwa and guard Malachi Flynn.

“We’re excited about welcoming Immanuel and RJ to our team. Immanuel is a young, talented playmaker who we believe will provide a spark on both ends of the court. RJ is a versatile wing who is, of course, well-known in his hometown, and seeing him in a Raptors uniform will be a special moment for our fans and for all Canadians,” Toronto vice-chairman and president Masai Ujiri said. “It’s never easy to say goodbye, especially when players like OG and Malachi have spent their careers with our team. We wish Precious, Malachi and OG all the best.”

Quickley, 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, is averaging a career-high 15.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 24.0 minutes in 30 contests this season. He is shooting .454 (152-335) from the floor, including .395 (64-162) from beyond the arc, and scored in double figures in 23 games.

In his fourth season, Quickley was a finalist for the 2022-23 KIA NBA Sixth Man of the Year and was named to the 2020-21 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In 253 career games (27 starts) with the Knicks, he averaged 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 24.1 minutes.

New York acquired Quickley’s draft rights after he was picked 25th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2020 NBA Draft. A native of Havre de Grace, Maryland, Quickley played two seasons at Kentucky (2018-20), earning SEC Player of the Year and All-SEC First Team honours as a sophomore.

Barrett, 6-foot-7, 224 pounds, is averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 29.5 minutes in 26 games (all starts) this season. He is shooting .423 (164-388) from the field, .331 (43-130) from three-point range, and scored 20 or more points 10 times. Barrett had a season-high 27 points Dec. 11 against the Raptors.

A native of Toronto, Barrett is in his fifth NBA season and owns career averages of 18.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 33.2 minutes in 297 games (296 starts) with New York. He was picked third overall by the Knicks in the 2019 NBA Draft after one season at Duke (2018-19) where he was first-team All-ACC selection.

Anunoby was picked 23rd overall by the Raptors in the 2017 NBA Draft. He averaged 11.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 28.7 minutes in 395 games (321 starts) over seven seasons with Toronto. Anunoby helped the Raptors capture their first NBA championship in 2019 and was an All-Defensive Second Team selection last season.

Achiuwa averaged 8.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 21.6 minutes in 153 games (40 starts) with Toronto after he was acquired from Miami in August 2021.

Flynn was picked 29th overall by the Raptors in the 2020 NBA Draft. He averaged 5.4 points, 2.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 15.0 minutes in 175 career games (21 starts).

Taj Gibson is back on the Knicks

Per the NY Post:

Their latest reunion skipped the emotions and went right into the brass tacks, in the Tom Thibodeau way.

“Thibs just gave me that look like, ‘Yo, you in shape?’ ” said Taj Gibson, officially signed by the Knicks on Friday to a one-year, nonguaranteed deal. “‘You know I can’t rock with you if you’re not in shape.’”

Gibson affirmed to his coach Friday that he’s well conditioned — a product of training by himself at the NBPA gym in Manhattan — but Thibodeau couldn’t resist busting chops, telling his 38-year-old center to run sprints with the guards.

“Then he says, ‘I’m joking with you,’” Gibson said. “He knows how to ruffle feathers.”

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Devin Booker hits clutch shot in Suns win over Knicks

Per the Arizona Republic:

Devin Booker loves playing at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Knicks should be thankful the Phoenix Suns only visit once a regular season.

Booker iced a cooler-than-be-cool fadeaway 3 with 1.7 seconds left to stun the Knicks, 116-113, Sunday evening before a sellout crowd of 19,812 that watched in disbelief.

Jalen Brunson missed a 3 at the buzzer that rimmed in and out on his game-high 35-point night.

Booker added 11 assists and committed just two turnovers.

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Knicks center Mitchell Robinson hitting the offensive glass hard this season

Per the NY Post:

Mitchell Robinson is the best offensive rebounder right now in the NBA.

It became his undisputed title after grabbing 11 offensive rebounds in Saturday night’s victory over the Hornets, giving Robinson 50 percent more than anybody else in the league this season.

But Robinson doesn’t think his greatest skill is a skill at all.

“It’s just effort,” he said. “It’s really just effort.” …

Still just 25 and in his sixth season, Robinson surpassed Bill Cartwright on Saturday for third on the Knicks’ all-time list with 1,116 for career offensive boards. He’s still less than halfway to catching No. 2 (Charles Oakley) and No. 1 (Patrick Ewing), but the outrageous pace makes it seem possible Robinson will get to the top.

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The latest on Knicks forward Julius Randle

Per the NY Post:

As he struggled through the opening week-plus of the season, Julius Randle had been battling through ankle pain and, as a player committed to availability, resisted attempts from the Knicks to get him to rest, multiple sources told The Post.

Randle, who underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery in the offseason, was operating at about “70 percent,” a source said.

And through the opening six games — while limited by that pain — Randle was among the league’s least efficient players with a notable drop-off in his explosiveness.

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Knicks sign Ryan Arcidiacono

The New York Knicks have signed guard Ryan Arcidiacono.

Arcidiacono, 29-years-old (6-3, 195-pounds), averaged 1.3 points and 1.2 assists in 8.6 minutes over 20 games (four starts) with the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks last season. He spent the 2021-22 season with the Knicks recording 1.6 points over 10 games. Prior to New York, he spent four seasons with the Chicago Bulls (2017-21) averaging 4.8 points, 2.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds over 17.6 minutes in 207 games (36 starts). He holds career averages of 4.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds over 16.4 minutes in 237 games (40 starts) over six seasons with the Bulls, Knicks and Blazers.

The Langhorne, PA-native played four seasons at Villanova University and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in the Wildcats’ championship run in 2016. He was named First-Team All-Big East and Big East Co-Player of the Year as a junior in 2015. He averaged 11.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.17 steals for his collegiate career.