Name it a Delon Wright revenge recreation. Type of.
The Knicks are with out Jalen Brunson (ankle), Miles McBride (groin) and Cam Payne (ankle), leaving rookie Tyler Kolek as the one wholesome true level guard out there.
However head coach Tom Thibodeau opted to begin the veteran Wright, who solely had performed in rubbish time since being acquired from the Bucks forward of the deadline, as a substitute of Kolek within the Knicks’ 116-107 win over Milwaukee on Friday evening at Fiserv Discussion board.
Wright rewarded his coach’s choice, ending with a season-high 12 factors in half-hour of enjoying time, by far his greatest workload with the Knicks.
“Undoubtedly [a good feeling],” Wright stated. “I really feel like each workforce that I go away, I at all times have a great recreation the primary recreation again or the primary time enjoying them. I simply needed to maintain that streak going.”
Thibodeau clearly most popular Wright’s expertise and defensive means over Kolek’s distribution.
Kolek performed 17 minutes and completed with 5 factors and 5 assists.
“His protection you may at all times rely on,” Thibodeau stated of Wright. “That’s his power, and he’s not afraid. He’s aggressive, and he is aware of the right way to play off individuals. I believe he reads the sport properly. I believe we acquired terrific point-guard play.
“I used to be going backwards and forwards on [who to start], and I used to be comfy with each. Quite a lot of it was primarily based on I wasn’t fairly positive who they had been gonna begin. Their measurement was a think about it. However I used to be comfy. And then you definately learn the sport like, ‘What do you want? What do you want extra of?’ Each guys are actually good gamers, they’ve totally different strengths, so you may alter as the sport goes.”
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers had excessive reward for ex-Knicks heart Jericho Sims.
Sims was an necessary contributor for the Bucks following his commerce from the Knicks forward of the deadline. The Knicks acquired Wright from Milwaukee as a part of a three-team commerce.
“He’s been implausible for us,” Rivers stated earlier than the sport. “Huge, athletic man, runs the ground. He was defending, rebounding. He gained some video games for us together with his presence. Undoubtedly a welcome addition. A shock how good he’s.”
Sims was averaging quarter-hour per recreation in 14 video games performed with the Bucks, recording 2.4 factors, 4.9 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per recreation.
He served a helpful position as a backup huge man off the bench with Bobby Portis suspended, however he’s sidelined after present process surgical procedure to restore a torn ligament in his thumb.
He’s anticipated to be again for the playoffs, although.
Payne missed Friday’s recreation after struggling a sprained ankle within the Knicks’ 126-113 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday.
McBride missed his fourth straight recreation with a groin contusion.
