Carmelo Anthony sits another game to rest sprained ankle
Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks walks to the bench after leaving a game against the Boston Celtics early in the second half at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016 in New York City. Credit: Jim McIsaac
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Carmelo Anthony went through the morning shootaround but said he wasn’t getting the “power” or “lift” when he tried to jump, so he missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle Saturday night.
“I think — we think — it’s best for me to try to get a couple more days and take it one day at a time rather than coming back and have a chance of it being agitated again, not being full healthy,” Anthony said.
“The running is actually fine. It’s more of kind of the takeoff, the power and the lift. I try to shoot and just that power to get the shot off, move certain directions.”
Anthony sprained his ankle in Tuesday night’s win over the Celtics when he stepped on referee Steve Anderson’s foot. He didn’t play in Wednesday night’s loss to the Nets and hopes to return for Monday’s holiday matinee against the 76ers.
“I’m looking forward to that game,” Anthony said. “I don’t want to have to keep answering the same questions: ‘Is it going to be tomorrow, is it going to be the next day?’ I’ll let you all know.”
Kristaps Porzingis becomes more of a focal point of the offense when Anthony is out, but he doesn’t want to get used to playing without him.
“It helps for my own experience,” Porzingis said. “But for the team, it’s worse playing without him.”
Derek Fisher slid Arron Afflalo to small forward in Anthony’s absence and started Langston Galloway at shooting guard.
Shooting for 82
Despite a sore shoulder, Porzingis scored 17 points, and he said one of his goals is to appear in every game this season.
That appeared unlikely during training camp and the preseason when the rookie suffered injuries to his left knee, quadriceps and back on non-contact plays, but he hasn’t missed a game yet.
“That’s what I want to do. I want to play 82 games,” Porzingis said. “A lot of people were questioning my ability to go through the whole schedule. Obviously, it’s not easy, 82 games in such a short period. But it’s what I want to do . . . I haven’t had any serious issues, knock on wood. Hopefully I can keep going that way.”
Grant returns
Rookie guard Jerian Grant flew to Memphis and rejoined the team after missing Friday’s practice for personal reasons. Grant is the father of a new baby boy, Hunter Jrue Grant.
Off the Marc
The Knicks had definite interest in Grizzlies center Marc Gasol in free agency, but it wasn’t mutual. Gasol wanted to stay in Memphis, inked a five-year max deal and never met with the Knicks.
“We had some sort of communication,” Gasol said. “But it was never a formal conversation, put it that way.” He let his play do his talking on Saturday night, scoring 37 points in the Grizzlies’ 103-95 victory.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
