Even when the New York Knicks are riding the momentum of big wins, injuries continue to be a concern. Last season, they derailed what could have been a deep playoff run, and history might be repeating itself.
Heading into Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks were already without OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson, though both are nearing a return. Now, they have another injury to manage— veteran star suffered a rib contusion during New York’s 149-148 overtime win. He initially played through the pain but exited in the second half, and it remains unclear how long he’ll be sidelined.
The Knicks blew an 18-point lead before narrowly edging out the struggling Hawks. With All-Star weekend providing a much-needed break, the team won’t play again for a week. However, concerns persist about player fatigue.
After trading for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks shifted from a deep roster to a more top-heavy starting five, leading to heavier workloads for key players. In Wednesday’s win, all five starters logged over 40 minutes, a pattern that has been a hallmark of head coach Tom Thibodeau’s teams.
McBride had been an important contributor, averaging 10.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 steals in just under 25 minutes per game over his last seven contests. Now, the Knicks must wait to see how serious his injury is and hope their roster can stay healthy for the stretch run.