The New York Knicks starting shooting guard Quentin Grimes is doubtful to play in the second night of a back-to-back game after playing through an ankle sprain on Tuesday’s 38-point rout of the Golden State Warriors.
Grimes suffered the injury in the final minute of the first half and immediately went to the locker room after he hit two of three free throws. But he returned in the second half to finish the game, producing 19 points and four assists in 32 minutes.
After the game, Grimes said he tweaked his ankle a little bit, but he’s all good.
“It was a lot of pain at first but then it kind of [subsided]. I want to stay in the game, so I got to fight through it.”
Quentin Grimes postgame via Knicks digital
Perhaps Grimes drew inspiration from their leader and All-Star candidate Jalen Brunson, who played through a couple of injuries this season and hasn’t missed a game. Brunson’s oft-repeated mantra, “If I can walk, I can play,” has resonated with the team and is fast becoming their rallying cry during this eight-game winning streak that stabilized the Knicks as a team and as an organization.
When asked what he told Grimes after he went out with the injury, Brunson left it to anyone’s imagination.
“I don’t think I’m allowed to repeat what I said so I’m just gonna leave it at that. [Knicks PR] will get mad at me.”
Jalen Brunson postgame via Knicks digital
If Grimes misses time, it will be interesting to see who would soak up his 31.2 minutes average playing time as a starter.
Will Thibodeau spread Grimes’ minutes to the remaining regular rotation guys, or will he pull one of the displaced players (Cam Reddish, Evan Fournier, and Derrick Rose) back to the rotation?
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