Quentin Grimes becoming solid perimeter defender for Knicks
Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne, left, dribbles past New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes (6) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. Credit: AP/Ross D. Franklin
DETROIT — With Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey sidelined by injuries Tuesday there was no defensive stopper challenge for the Knicks, but if needed Quentin Grimes has quickly shown that he is the player Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau will turn to on the perimeter.
Grimes — with plenty of help from Mitchell Robinson — did a credible job on Memphis Grizzlies lightning-quick Ja Morant Sunday. In the fourth quarter though, the Knicks handed the assignment to Cam Reddish and Morant scored 10 of his 27 points down the stretch.
“I always want to take on a matchup like that being the competitor that I am,” Grimes said. “Just go out there, I know he’s a great player, one of the better guards in the league, for sure. Got to make sure me and Mitch are on the same page coming into the game. He had my back, I had his back, we had it going there. I tried to contain him as much as I could really going into the game.
“He’s a guy who’s slithery, he can slide in and out of pick and rolls. I know I got to get into his body. But like I said, Mitch came to me and told me he had my back, and I know I had his back. Just tried to make it easier for the both of us really.”
Fournier waits
Evan Fournier was a DNP-coaches decision for the eighth straight game after being pulled from the rotation, the only player not to enter the game for the Knicks Tuesday.
“Outside of hard, there’s nothing else to say,” Fournier said. “Trying to do my job, be supportive, be a good teammate, and do my work. And that’s it.
“I haven’t talked to Tom [Thibodeau]. I understand where he’s coming from. Sit on the bench for 40 minutes, we saw [Ryan Arcidiacono] tonight get hurt, that stuff can happen.”
Quickley is in
Immanuel Quickley was listed as questionable but little more than an hour before game time he tested his sore right knee, an injury that came Sunday against Memphis, and decided to give it a go. He played 22 minutes and contributed 15 points.
“It was tightness, my TFL Band [small muscle on outside of the hip] was really tight,” Quickley said. “I felt pretty good out there. Just kind of wanted to be there for my teammates. My knee feels pretty good but still a little sore. Played through it.”
He actually went to the bench in the fourth quarter but Ryan Arcidiacono turned an ankle and Quickley had to return and finish the game.
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.
