Knicks' Quentin Grimes has put foot injury behind him
Knicks guard Quentin Grimes (6) goes up for a shot in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Lindy Waters III, left, forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, center, and forward Luguentz Dort (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in Oklahoma City. Credit: AP/Sue Ogrocki
Quentin Grimes was in the starting lineup Friday for the third straight game and has seemed to move past the foot soreness that was limiting him.
Grimes has managed to provide just what the Knicks have hoped since his ascension.
He started the season not only hurt but behind Evan Fournier. And while Grimes rehabbed his foot, Cam Reddish emerged as a solid contributor and took the starting job.
But Reddish recently injured his right groin and missed his third straight game on Friday, opening the door for Grimes.
“I just think he’s a two-way player, shoots the three, plays off of people extremely well,” coach Tom Thibodeau said of Grimes. “High energy, multiple-effort guy, can guard multiple positions.
“That’s the thing we liked, and he showed us that last year, he can do [start or come off the bench] very effectively. He’s a high-intensity guy, very, very competitive. He can think on his feet. Can play the two, three, play some point. Knows all the positions well.”
Familiar face
Trail Blazers coach and former Knick Chauncey Billups has been impressed with what Jalen Brunson has done this season.
“I love Jalen, man,” Billups said. “I love him. He’s just a winner. He’s got a winning spirit about him. The one thing I really appreciate about him is he does it from the neck up. He’s not the fastest, he doesn’t jump the highest. But he gets it done with his angles out there and the pump fakes. He just gets it done.”
Does that remind Billups of anyone — perhaps himself?
“We were different players,” Billups said. “But I tried to play the game with my mind. I wasn’t that fast. I was stronger than most guys. But I had to find an advantage somewhere, and that’s what he’s done.”
Still hurting
Derrick Rose (sore toe) and Reddish (groin strain) each missed his third straight game. Thibodeau said they are day-to-day and close to returning. The Blazers were without Damian Lillard, who was diagnosed last week with a grade 1 strain of the soleus muscle in the right lower leg.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
