Karl-Anthony Cities doubled over in ache within the second quarter Saturday, clutching and shaking his left hand after drawing contact whereas driving to the rim.
The All-Star heart remained within the sport and ended up logging 36 minutes, however he completed simply 5-for-18 from the sphere in a 115-93 loss to the Celtics on the Backyard in Sport 3 of the second spherical.
Nonetheless, in accordance with newbie lip readers on social media, it appeared that Cities mentioned later within the sport that he believed he “broke” one thing on the play.
“It’s what it’s. I simply need to do no matter I can to be on the market,” Cities mentioned afterward. “It’s what it’s. I’m gonna hold discovering methods to play, so I ain’t tripping.”
Cities completed with 21 factors and 10 rebounds in Sport 3, with most of his level whole attributable to attending to the free-throw line for 11 makes an attempt and sinking 10 of them.
the Knicks’ Sport 3 blowout loss to the Celtics. Jason Szenes / New York Publish
However the 7-footer additionally missed 4-of-5 tries from 3-point vary to fall to 1-for-7 within the sequence after he nailed 42 p.c in the course of the common season and 48 p.c in six video games within the first spherical in opposition to the Pistons.
Cities, who missed one sport whereas coping with a right-hand problem in January, obtained tousled with Al Horford and Jrue Vacation on a drive with somewhat greater than seven minutes remaining in Saturday’s second quarter.
The “I believe I broke it” second captured by ABC cameras got here late within the half after Cities fought Luke Kornet for a rebound. The New Jersey product additionally was proven wincing within the third quarter after a foul known as in opposition to Vacation.
“It’s the playoffs, persons are going to get hit and also you’ve obtained to play by way of issues,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “That’s why you do it your complete season. Nobody’s taking part in one hundred pc.
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“However it’s a must to perceive that you may play properly while you’re feeling lower than your greatest. I believe the psychological toughness a part of that is enormous.”
Cities declined to say whether or not he underwent an X-ray or different checks on his wrist or hand, saying he’d “let [the Knicks] inform you that.”
The five-time All-Star is averaging 19.7 factors per sport within the playoffs, virtually 5 factors under his regular-season scoring output of 24.4 ppg in his first season with the Knicks following a commerce from the Timberwolves.
