Wizards overcome Walker’s 44-point night, win 124-117
NEW YORK — Point guard Kemba Walker, playing 43 minutes for a shorthanded Knicks squad, had 44 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough as the Washington Wizards held on for a 124-117 victory Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
Spencer Dinwiddie had 21 points and 12 assists, and Corey Kispert scored 20 for a balanced Wizards offense. Kyle Kuzma had 18 points and 10 rebounds as Washington had seven players score in double figures, including all of the starters.
The Knicks gradually are coming out of their COVID19 outbreak.
RJ Barrett and Quentin Grimes cleared the NBA’S health and safety protocols Thursday but didn’t play. Obi Toppin, who cleared the protocols Wednesday, had two points and three rebounds in 13 minutes.
The three, who rejoined the team ahead of their game against the Wizards on Thursday evening, were part of seven players to sit due to the virus. Barrett had missed the last five games, while Grimes missed four.
Kevin Knox, Miles Mcbride, Nerlens Noel and Immanuel Quickley remained in health and safety protocols.
The Knicks also signed guard Danuel House to a 10-day contract. House, who was waived by the Rockets on Dec. 18, averaged 4.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 16 games with Houston.
Thibodeau missing Rose already: Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said Derrick Rose’s absence will be felt far beyond the stat sheet.
Rose, who underwent surgery on his right ankle Wednesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, will be out for at least eight weeks, at which point he’ll be reevaluated, the team said. That, though, could be sped up to six weeks if things progress well, according to a report by ESPN’S Adrian Wojnarowski
“The record obviously speaks for itself, and his impact on the floor, so it was not only what he did himself, but he brought the best out of the people around him,” Thibodeau said. “To me, that’s the mark of a great player. You get his net rating. You see it was great last year, great this year.”
The Knicks are 11-15 with Rose in the lineup this year, but were 24-11 with him last season. He’s averaging 12 points a game, with four assists and three rebounds in 26 games this season. He took the starting point guard spot from Walker on Dec. 12, starting in three straight games before getting hurt. Walker has now been playing more with Rose’s absence, along with that of the slew of Knicks players in the NBA’S health and safety protocols.