GM: We’ll deal with Kristaps’
ORLANDO — There was no comeback this time for the Babybockers. Not without their star.
Kristaps Porzingis sat with small injuries and the Knicks were doomed by turnovers and lackadaisical defense Wednesday, when their three-game winning streak was snapped by the Magic, 112-99.
Much like the previous two games, the Knicks (6-5) found themselves trailing going into the fourth quarter and sent out a group led by Frank Ntilikina and Tim Hardaway Jr. But the Magic never opened the door for New York (6-5), which committed 22 turnovers on the second night of a back-to-back.
Hornacek basically called it a schedule loss.
“They had a little more energy. Obviously, us coming off last night’s game, getting here at 3 a.m. (on Wednesday morning from New York to Orlando), 3:30 a.m., whatever it was,” the coach said. “Orlando has been here for two days waiting for this game.”
Hardaway Jr. scored a team-high 26 points. Ntilikina added a career-high nine assists in just 22 minutes. Willy Hernangomez even emerged from the doghouse to score eight in the fourth quarter.
But stopping the Magic (7-4) proved difficult without a 7-foot-3 Unicorn in the middle. Orlando’s trio of Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic combined for 68 efficient points. New York’s starting lineup, which featured Michael Beasley at power forward, was pummeled as Orlando point guard Elfrid Payton returned from an eightgame absence because of a hamstring problem.
He outplayed Jarrett Jack, who committed six turnovers.
“Like any other team that’s missing their star player, guys have to step it up (without Porzingis),” Hornacek said. “We had some guys contribute, but against a team that has energy, has their starting group back, we were right there.”
In the midst of an electrifying stretch of greatness, Porzingis was in a suit with a sore ankle and elbow tenderness. The elbow bursitis is more concerning since the swelling is chronic and, as Porzingis warned, may prompt an offseason procedure.
Still, Porzingis expects to play the next game Saturday against the Kings. Wednesday represented an ideal night to
ORLANDO — Knicks GM Scott Perry would not discuss Kristaps Porzingis’ looming contract extension eligibility or the ominous comments from the Latvian’s older brother. Like his colleague Steve Mills, Perry dubbed the conversation premature. But he did mention that Porzingis is currently “happy” with the Knicks.
“I don’t really want to talk about that right now. We’re looking forward and ahead,” Perry said. “The time to talk about contract extensions, that’s far. We’re living in today. KP is playing some very good basketball right now. He’s playing well and happy with this team. We’ll deal with all that stuff later. But no comment in terms of what was said (by Porzingis’ older brother, Janis) because I really don’t know what he meant.”
In an interview with a Latvian magazine, Janis indicated that Kristaps would rest on the second game of a back-to-back with two off days before the next contest. It was also the lone road challenge sandwiched between eight home games.
GM Scott Perry, speaking before the defeat, reiterated that this season isn’t about wins and losses. But he couldn’t have been happy about the turnovers that cost New York a winnable game.
“I told you at the beginning: It wasn’t so much about the record,” Perry said. “I know if we played hard and competed those type of qualities give you an opportunity to be in games, be close and have a chance to win.
“I just want to continue along that path. I won’t get into how many victories that yields us. It’s a goal obviously to win and compete. We’ve done that thus far. But we have a very, very long way to go.” leave the Knicks — and the extra money on the table — if the team doesn’t keep him happy. Kristaps said the excerpts of the interview — which were translated by Eurohoops.net — were “taken out of context.”
Kristaps is eligible for a five-year extension this summer worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $150 million. Only the Knicks can make that offer. on the bench in Orlando.
“Nagging a little bit here and there, but overall I feel fine. I’m fighting through it,” he said. Hardaway Jr. is averaging 21.7 points in his last seven games while shooting 47 percent. On Wednesday without an injured Porzingis, he scored 26 points with a career-high 11 rebounds.