Burks unavailable, in COVID protocol
DALLAS — Just as he was rolling, Alec Burks is now sidelined.
The Knicks’ hot-shooting swingman, Burks has been placed in the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the team announced, and he missed Friday’s contest against the Mavericks.
But Burks could miss a lot more. If Burks has been sidelined be- cause he tested positive for COVID-19, and it’s not just an inconclusive test, he would miss at least 10 days of action while he quarantines.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said “several players have been vaccinated’’ as well as staffers, but didn’t say if Burks had been.
Thibodeau danced around a question of whether Burks will stay behind in Dallas as the Knicks return home, but it’s possible. Thibodeau sounded as if he were prepared to soldier on without Burks for multiple games.
“We’ll just make sure we’ll follow the guidelines,’’ Thibodeau said. “And it’s pretty common right now — you see that there are a number of players that it’s happened to throughout the course of the season. When you start off the season, you prepare for all these situations and you follow the guidelines. That’s why you have a team and we’re very confident in our bench.’’
Derrick Rose was away from the Knicks for more than three weeks after testing positive and being symptomatic last month. Because of HIPAA laws, the Knicks won’t say specifically if Burks tested positive or had an inconclusive test. Knicks point guard Frank Ntilikina was in the health and safety protocols over a contracttracing incident in February in Miami after coming in contact with a person who had tested positive for COVID-19. Ntilikina was away from the Knicks for 10 days, quarantining in Miami.
Ntilikina, who is regarded as a better off guard than point guard, will be expected to pick up the slack should Burks have an extended absence. The Frenchman has been lauded for his good attitude despite being out of the rotation most of the season.
Kevin Knox also will be part of the plan to fill the Burks’ swingman void. The Knicks’ two lottery picks of 2017, 2018 — Ntilikina and Knox — have been out of the rotation much of the year.
Burks, who has become a huge contributor off the bench, scored 14 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter in New Orleans on Wednesday to key the Knicks’ fourth straight victory. He has played his way into being in the conversation for Sixth Man of the Year, but now could miss several games, pending further testing.
➤ Rick Carlisle didn’t have much to do with the Mavericks whipping the Knicks 99-86 on April 2 at the Garden, but he enjoyed the experience while watching from his Manhattan hotel room.
Carlisle was in COVID-19 safety protocols that night and his assistant, Jamahl Mosley, a former Knicks coaching candidate, ran the Mavericks.
Carlisle, a former NBA small forward who played a season with the Knicks under Rick Pitino, said he truly enjoyed watching the April 2 telecast.
“I love watching the Knicks broadcast whether it’s Mike Breen or Kenny Albert,’’ said Carlisle, who had a “false positive” in New York. “He’s great. Clyde Frazier — I’d pay money to listen to him broadcast a game. He’s so awesome. It was interesting — the thing I got out of it when you listen to the other team’s broadcast — you get some interesting perspective on your team. I tried to make the best of it and obviously really pleased with how the game went.’’