Melo (ankle) to sit vs. Griz; Porzingis probable
MEMPHIS — New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony will miss Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies with a sprained right ankle.
“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 told reporters after Saturday’s shootaround.
Anthony suffered the injury on Tuesday against the Boston Celtics when he rolled his ankle on the foot of referee Steve Anderson while running back on defense. Anthony left the game and returned at the start of the second half, but he left the floor in obvious pain just 20 seconds into the quarter. He then missed Wednesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
X-rays on Anthony’s ankle were negative, according to the team. Anthony said on Saturday that he’s still in considerable discomfort.
“The running is actually fine. It’s more of kind of the takeoff, the power and the lift,” Anthony said. “I try to shoot and just that power to get the shot off, move certain directions.”
Anthony hasn’t ruled out playing on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
In other injury news, rookie Kristaps Porzingis is expected to play against Memphis despite experiencing soreness in his right shoulder. He was listed as questionable earlier Saturday.
“I felt great, honestly,” Porzingis told reporters Saturday. “It feels like normal compared to yesterday, when I felt a little pain. I’m totally fine and I’m good to play.”
The Knicks will likely rely a little more on Porzingis on offense with Anthony out. Anthony, of course, leaves a big void for New York. He’s averaging 21.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
It’s unclear at this point who will start in Anthony’s place against Memphis, but Lance Thomas did so on Wednesday against Brooklyn.
The Knicks (20-21) are 0-3 in games in which Anthony has sat for injuries.
“The really good teams, they still find a way to work through [injuries], and that’s what we need to do,” coach Derek Fisher said.
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