NOVEMBER 27 KNICKS ADJUST TWO-WAY DEALS Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the New York Knicks will release Duane Washington Jr. from his two-way contract, which will go to former Summer League star Jaylen Martin. Washington, who signed with the organization in February after 31 games with Phoenix, had not played with either the Knicks nor their G League affiliate in Westchester this season due to a thumb injury.
The 19-year-old Martin, who played under former Knicks shooter Charlie Ward at Florida State University School, played for the Knicks’ Summer League team in Las Vegas, earning 39 points on 41 percent shooting in three appearances. He has since moved onto Westchester, averaging 10.8 points and 3.3 rebounds.
NOVEMBER 27 LAMELO BALL INJURED BEFORE KNICKS CLASH The Charlotte Hornets may be without their franchise face LaMelo Ball when they face the Knicks on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG): the star point guard suffered an ankle injury and had to be carried off the court during Sunday’s loss to Orlando and did not return.
Per Spencer Percy of Buzz Beat, Ball’s subsequent x-rays were negative but his status will likely linger in question as the Hornets come to MSG in the finale of In-Season Tournament group play for both sides. Ball is coming off ankle surgery after a different ailment ended his previous season last February.
NOVEMBER 26 DURANT OUT VS KNICKS The Phoenix Suns announced that Kevin Durant (foot soreness) would miss his second consecutive game, keeping him out of the team’s Sunday tilt against the New York Knicks.
Durant was listed as questionable on the pregame injury report and was said to be a game-time decision. Keita Bates-Diop stepped into his spot in the starting lineup for the second straight game.
NOVEMBER 23: JEFFRIES, MCBRIDE, SIMS STAR IN WESTCHESTER ASSIGNMENT New York Knicks reserves DaQuan Jeffries, Miles McBride, and Jericho Sims were each assigned to the team’s G League affiliate in Westchester on Wednesday. Each took advantage of an extended opportunity in the team’s final pre-Thanksgiving clash against the Brooklyn Nets’ group from Long Island.
Though the Knicks fell by a 111-104 final, Jeffries put up 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting (including 5-of-10 from three-point range) while McBride was right behind him with 21. Sims pulled in 12 rebounds, half of them of the offensive variety.
Westchester (4-2) returns to action on Saturday when they take on the Greensboro Swarm, the Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate, on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. ET, NBAGLeague.com).
NOVEMBER 20 MCDANIELS LEAVES KNICKS-WOLVES GAME Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (right ankle sprain) has been ruled out for the remainder of the team’s Monday night showdown against the Knicks. McDaniels has made a name for himself as a strong defender during the Timberwolves’ scorching start to the 2023-24 season but will be missing after rolling his ankle upon landing on the foot of Karl-Anthony Towns while going for a rebound.
Despite losing McDaniels, Minnesota leads the Knicks 58-56 at halftime in Minneapolis.
NOVEMBER 20: BRUNSON LANDS EAST POTW HONOR: The NBA announced on Monday that Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was bestowed the Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor, earning the accolade alongside Western star De’Aaron Fox of Sacramento. It’s Brunson’s second such honor since joining the Knicks on a four-year, $104 million contract two summers ago.
Brunson has carried the offensive slack as the Knicks (8-5) have embarked on a five-game road trip: in the first four stages, Brunson has averaged 28.5 points and 6.5 assists while shooting a sterling 54.3 percent from three-point range. That includes consecutive 32-point showings in a weekend back-to-back, the former coming in the Knicks’ first NBA In-Season Tournament victory on Friday in Washington. Brunson has earned 77 points over two In-Season Tournament games thus far.
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