CHAGING OF THE GUARD
Mudiay benched in favor of both Burke, Ntilikina
Jeff Hornacek finally pulled the plug on Emmanuel Mudiay as the Knicks’ starting point guard.
Mudiay started Friday’s game, but was benched for the final 43 minutes as Hornacek used a new backcourt to begin the second half of the Knicks’ 108-104 Garden loss to the Timberwolves.
After claiming he would roll all the way with Mudiay as starting point guard, Hornacek took a detour. He trotted out Trey Burke and Frank Ntilikina to open the third quarter after the Knicks fell into a 57-48 halftime hole. Mudiay and struggling Courtney Lee rode the pine.
The Knicks had a terrific start to the second half, but ultimately fell to the playoff-bound Timberwolves despite Tim Hardaway Jr.’s career-high 39 points.
Afterward, Hornacek wouldn’t say whether Mudiay would start for a 15th straight game Sunday in Washington.
“We haven’t thought about that game yet,’’ Hornacek said. “I liked what those two guys [Burke and Ntilikina] did tonight. Emmanuel may not have had it tonight, but we’ll see.’’
Mudiay played the game’s first 4:54, going scoreless as the Knicks fell behind 9-2 and trailed 15-7 when he was yanked for good. Mudiay played with a slightly sprained right ankle in Miami on Wednesday night, but Hornacek said Mudiay’s benching wasn’t related to that.
The Burke-Ntilikina pairing also led the Knicks back from a 16-point hole in the first half. To start the second half, the three-guard attack of Burke, Ntilikina and Hardaway spearheaded 13-0 and 17-2 splurges.
“I thought they did a great job in the first half, they were really active, helping each other out,’’ Hornacek said. “They had a pretty good chemistry going. I decided in the second half: let’s roll with those guys.”
Mudiay, who said his ankle feels better but that he has been “under the weather,” hadn’t yet talked to
Hornacek about the demotion.
“Yeah [I was surprised], but at the same time I wasn’t going to be a sore loser about it,’’ said Mudiay, who is 3-11 as starter. “I was going to cheer my teammates on. Frank, Trey and Tim had it going. We got back in the game after starting out a little slow.
“That’s something you got to ask him. I’m going to control what I can control. Whatever he said to you was how he was feeling.’’
Hardaway struck for 19 points in the third quarter, including three 3pointers with his Michigan buddy Burke by his side as the Knicks gained a seven-point lead.
Mudiay started the first 14 games out of the All-Star break, giving a lengthy audition after the Knicks traded for him on Feb. 8 at the deadline. After the loss Wednesday to the Heat, Hornacek snapped at the possibility of pulling Mudiay as starter.
Burke finished with 15 points and nine assists, while Ntilikina added 13 points with three assists in a career-high 37 minutes. Ntilikina drained a four-point play in the first half as the Knicks fell to 26-47. Towns led Minnesota (42-31) with 24 points.
The volatile Kyle O’Quinn was caught on camera yelling at Hornacek as he walked to the bench after a timeout. Hornacek had appeared to question him for not contesting a shot. Minnesota’s new point guard,
Derrick Rose, who has played five games for the Timberwolves, didn’t travel with the club and missed the chance to face the Knicks because of an ankle injury.
Asked about signing his former Bulls charge, Thibodeau said, “Without [ Jimmy] Butler, we needed to add talent. He’s a good fit for us.’’
Rose, who was not re-signed by the Knicks following last season, was cut by the Jazz after the Cavaliers traded the former MVP to Utah. Rose has shot 45 percent for the Timberwolves, and is still able to get to the rim.