The New York Knicks picked up an impressive 112-95 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, improving to 53-28 and locking in the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
But the victory came at a cost and now, heading into the season finale against the Charlotte Hornets, head coach Mike Brown faces a pivotal lineup call with the playoffs on the horizon.
Brown Opens Door to Resting Starters
Speaking at the post-game press conference, Brown hinted that New York’s key contributors could sit out the final regular-season game. With seeding locked in and the playoffs fast approaching, Brown made it clear that health is the top priority.
“I’m not sure we’ll talk about it, probably. You want to try to go into the playoffs as healthy as possible, but we’ll discuss it as a staff here in the next day or so. And then we’ll see what happens.”
It’s a sensible stance. The Knicks have nothing to gain or lose in the standings, and entering the first round banged up would be a costly mistake.
OG Anunoby Could Be The Reason
The biggest concern driving Brown’s cautious approach is OG Anunoby, who exited in the game against Raptors in the second quarter with a left ankle injury and never returned.
The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III reported mid-game: “OG Anunoby (left ankle) will not return tonight.” Brown himself had no immediate answers postgame: “I know he tweaked his ankle, but I have not talked to anybody about it yet.”
Who Plays Sunday?
Since Brunson, KAT, Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges are all possible to either sit out completely or play only a few minutes, the bench players would be the ones to benefit the most from extra playing time against Charlotte.
Miles McBride and Mohamed Diawara might be handed more minutes which would also allow Brown a chance to see which options are available in terms of the team depth ahead of the playoffs.
On paper, the Hornets are not a threat, so it makes perfect sense to rest the Knicks and keep them fresh for the most important games.
Bench Players Who Could Shine
With Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges all being strong options for rest, the Knicks bench unexpectedly has a golden opportunity to shine its light on the Hornets.
The end-of-season game, which doesn’t really matter to most players, will also be a way for coach Mike Brown to thoroughly test his bench. Those who perform well could be rewarded with actual playoff minutes when the team will definitely need them.
Also, think about Mitchell Robinson coming back into the team and getting his good old self to the level where he was the best one at protecting the rim and laying down the law in the paint.
New addition Jose Alvarado has a golden chance to showcase his potential. The tenacious defender and sharpshooter could carve out a niche with his hustle and timely threes, especially if McBride remains sidelined. These bench warriors represent the Knicks’ playoff insurance policy.
Knicks’ Mike Brown Makes Surprising Starter Decision After Injury Scare