PORTLAND, Ore. — Backup heart Isaiah Hartenstein had a large affect on the Knicks’ win Sunday over the Lakers, regardless of being blanked within the scoring column.
Hartenstein recorded zero factors in 24 minutes, however he grabbed 11 rebounds, performed robust protection with two steals and one blocked shot and completed a team-best plus-19 because the Knicks ended their three-game dropping streak.
“It’s simply realizing that I don’t want to attain to make an affect,” Hartenstein stated. “I feel that’s type of been the best way it was this yr, the place offensively possibly it was rather less. However I feel I’m nonetheless discovering methods to make an affect on protection, and enjoying arduous, and doing regardless of the staff must win.”
Hartenstein, who has appeared in all 70 video games this season coming into Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to to the Path Blazers, is averaging 4.9 factors over 19.5 minutes per recreation. He additionally picked off a D’Angelo Russell go Sunday, resulting in a reverse dunk by Obi Toppin.
With Jalen Brunson nonetheless sidelined Sunday with a bruised left foot, Deuce McBride additionally had a robust recreation (plus-15) off the bench, together with a breakaway dunk and two 3-pointers in 17 minutes.
Instructed that Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated he all the time is aware of McBride shall be able to play whether or not in or out of the rotation, the second-year guard stated, “Actually, it’s the belief and perception. Listening to one thing like that, speaking to Thibs, speaking to all the opposite coaches, they know my recreation. They know that I’m all the time gonna keep prepared and produce vitality, so it’s a pleasant mentality to have.”
Thibodeau continued to be obscure on a timetable for Brunson, who wore a protecting boot whereas on the bench Sunday. After Tuesday’s recreation, the Knicks don’t play once more till Saturday at house in opposition to the Nuggets.
“You let the trainers do their job, and Jalen will do all the pieces potential to get again as quickly as he can, however we’re not gonna put him in hurt’s manner,” Thibodeau stated. “When everybody clears him, he’s snug, he’s gotta belief his physique, then he goes again on the market. And that holds true for each participant on the staff. We’re not gonna get away from that, and that’s the proper factor to do.”
Brunson was listed as doubtul for Tuesday’s recreation. Damian Lillard (calf tightness) and Jerami Grant (quad contusion) are each questionable for the Blazers.
