THORNY SITUATION
ROSE BOLTS KNICKS FOR FAMILY ISSUE, BUT NEVER TELLS TEAM BEFORE UGLY LOSS
The Knicks’ problems now roughly are on a numerical par with the points they surrender in games.
The biggest concern of the moment is starting point guard Derrick Rose, who was a no-show for Monday’s boo-laden 110-96 thumping administered by the New Orleans Pelicans. Not even the ejections of Carmelo Anthony (technical fouls) and Kyle O’Quinn (Flagrant Foul 2) or a Mount Olympus-like effort from Pelicans star Anthony Davis could overshadow the Rose mystery.
Social media exploded with theories and speculation on Rose, much of it regarding his reportedly deteriorating relationship with Jeff Hornacek, a partnership possibly soured by two recent benchings. Later indications were Rose was dealing with a family matter and left the team — possibly to return to Chicago, where his 4-year-old son lives — without notifying Knicks officials until well after the fact.
An NBA source told The Post that Knicks general manager Steve Mills spoke to Rose late Monday night. The source said Rose missing the game was “not a boycott.”
Teammate, friend and former Bulls mate Joakim Noah was the first to shed some light. Noah, in the postgame locker room, said he was relieved because the point guard was “OK.”
More than could be said for the Knicks.
“I don’t really want to talk too much about it because I don’t really know what the situation is,” Noah said. “Obviously Derrick is one of our better players, and when he is not here, it is tough, but I am just happy that everything is OK with him.”
When pressed, Noah said only that “it’s a relief for all of us” and that he spoke with Rose after the game. Noah then stressed, “He’s OK.”
Other teammates voiced their concerns about the situation, which first surfaced on the Knicks’ PR department’s official Twitter account. The team announced only, “Brandon Jennings is starting tonight versus @PelicansNBA - Derrick Rose is not with the team.”
Jennings scored 20 points and was completely in the dark, before, during and afterward.
“We haven’t heard anything. I don’t know anything. I found out 40 minutes before the game that I was going to start so just don’t know anything,” said Jennings, claiming he was “definitely concerned,” adding, “I just hope everything is all right.”
Courtney Lee, who said Rose attended the morning shootaround and gave no indications he would miss the game, issued a similarly dire message. So did Kristaps Porzingis.
“I hope Derrick is fine,” said Porzingis, who laid an egg with nine points on 3-of-13 shooting. “I have zero information about what is going on. So hopefully they tell me something as soon as possible because this is a little weird. Everybody is worried.”
Finally, Noah eased some minds — too late to save the game, which was the Knicks’ eighth defeat in nine game.
“We got our asses kicked,” said Noah, getting no debate.
But even a good butt-kicking, administered primarily by Davis,
who recorded 40 points and 18 rebounds in 29 minutes, took a backseat to the Rose intrigue.
Coach Jeff Hornacek gave no indication of Rose’s absence in his pregame press briefing. When asked if everyone would be available, the only exception he noted was forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas (illness). Hornacek afterward indicated he had not yet heard from Rose.
“We don’t have enough information to really give you anything,” Hornacek said. “That’s just going to have to wait until we hear something from Derrick himself.”
Texts to Rose’s agent, B.J. Armstrong, went unanswered, and then speculation hit full force, indicating the recent benchings and a critique of Rose’s style by the coach irritated the former MVP. But late Monday, sources indicated family matters were more at the heart of the issue. Asked if there was an issue with the benchings, Hornacek, who repeatedly declined comment, said, “No.”
When asked if he expected him back, Hornacek said, “Sure, it’s just a matter of time. … Everything will become clear later on. We want to respect whatever he’s going through.”
Anthony (18 points, 13 in the first quarter) was ejected for the third time this season, apparently for arguing fouls that weren’t called at 2:35 of the third quarter when the Knicks trailed by 19. Then at 1:16 of the lopsided third quarter, O’Quinn was ejected. He gave Davis a hard shot from behind while the league’s second leading scorer drove in transition. Davis tumbled into the photographers on the baseline and arose limping.