The New York Knicks are coming off their first win in five games against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. They’re gearing up to take on the Boston Celtics on Saturday evening, looking to string together another victory.
With the team already ruling Kevin Knox, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, and RJ Barrett out due to Covid health protocols, the team was already considered extremely thin.
However, the Knicks have ruled out another young player, Immanuel Quickley.
Immanuel Quickley (health and safety protocols) is out for tomorrow’s game at Boston.
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) December 17, 2021
Quickley has been a fantastic player for New York this season, averaging 10.2 points, 2.6 assists, and 21.8 minutes per game. He’s shooting 39% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range, but his recent numbers have been far more impressive.
Over the past three games, Quickley has posted double-digit points in each, including a 24-point performance against Houston, where he tallied four assists and four rebounds, hitting 70% of his shots from deep (7 of 10).
Head coach Tom Thibodeau rolled with Quickley and Miles McBride as the primary depth guards on Thursday, and they produced a combined 39 points and 13 assists, powering the Knicks victory.
Against Boston, they will continue to depend on McBride, who posted 15 points against the Rockets in the win. With so many players going down, Thibodeau may have no choice but to activate Kemba Walker off the bench, a move he’s been avoiding the past few days.