Allonzo Trier finally found his way back into the Knicks' lineup in their blowout against the Bucks on Sunday night after posted DNPs in the previous two. And unfortunately for him, that has been common of late. 

Trier's name hasn't come up a lot for the Knicks, and that is probably due to the fact that he has only played in two of the last 10 games. He had six straight DNPs before David Fizdale played him for seven minutes against the Raptors on Nov. 27. 

In fact, Trier has only played in 10 of the Knicks' 21 games this season, and the logjam in the backcourt is the main reason why. 

The Knicks never led in Monday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks and dropped their seventh straight game, 132-88. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Sunday's game

1) Milwaukee jumped out to a 33-15 lead after the first quarter and coasted the rest of the way to a victory. Khris Middleton's three-pointer on the first position of the game set the tone, and the Knicks were never closer on the scoreboard than they were at the opening tip-off.

The Knicks held the lead after one quarter, but Toronto dominated the rest of the way en route to a 126-98 victory on Wednesday night. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Wednesday's game

1) RJ Barrett took the court in his hometown of Toronto for the first time as an NBA player, showing some love for his hometown with his footwear. The rookie did not have a very efficient night from the floor, shooting just 5-of-17 from the floor overall, but he chipped in with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

The Knicks returned home to Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday after last week's two-game road trip and lost 108-87 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. >> Box Score

Five things to know about Sunday's game...

1) Taken by the Cavs just one spot in front of the Knicks' pick in the 2018 NBA draft, No. 8 overall selection Collin Sexton showed the Knicks what they missed out on. Sexton dropped a game-high 31 points -- also a season- and career-best scoring output -- shooting 10 of 16 from the field and going 5 for 8 on three-pointers to fuel Cleveland past New York. With the No. 9 overall pick, of course, the Knicks selected small forward Kevin Knox, who scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench.

The Knicks held on to beat the Mavericks 106-102 on Friday night in their most impressive overall performance of the season. >> Box Score

Five things to know about Friday's game...

1) The Knicks seemed to find a rhythm offensively against the Mavs, as their hot shooting saw them out to a 12-point lead late in the third quarter. The Mavs answered back, though, and with 5:44 to go the game was tied at 92-92. But thanks to some timely offense and some smothering defense, the Knicks built their lead back up to 99-92 with under three to play. Down the stretch, the Knicks made just enough of their free throws to maintain a three-point lead, and with under 30 seconds to go, a Luka Doncic three with a foot on the halfcourt logo was off the mark, and the Knicks went on to win the game.

The Knicks held on to beat the Mavericks 106-102 on Friday night in their most impressive overall performance of the season. >> Box Score

Five things to know about Friday's game...

1) The Knicks seemed to find a rhythm offensively against the Mavs, as their hot shooting saw them out to a 12-point lead late in the third quarter. The Mavs answered back, though, and with 5:44 to go the game was tied at 92-92. But thanks to some timely offense and some smothering defense, the Knicks built their lead back up to 99-92 with under three to play. Down the stretch, the Knicks made just enough of their free throws to maintain a three-point lead, and with under 30 seconds to go, a Luka Doncic three with a foot on the halfcourt logo was off the mark, and the Knicks went on to win the game.

2) Questions have been asked all season long about who on the team could step up to take over the reins as the team's starting point guard, and it's beginning to look more and more like Frank Ntilikina is the answer. The third-year guard once again showed an improved jump shot, as he went 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Ntilikina looked comfortable running the offense, played strong defense, and ended the night with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

Through the past two games, Knicks head coach David Fizdale has given Frank Ntilikina the start at point guard. And it doesn't look like he has a choice yet again against the Pistons on Wednedsay night. 

Elfrid Payton has been dealing with a hamstring injury, and he has already been ruled out during this two-game road trip in Detroit and Dallas. Also, Dennis Smith Jr. has yet to return as he continues to be with his family following the passing of his stepmother. 

So Ntilikina should get the start against the Pistons. But, no matter the loss of the other point guards in the system, how long should Fizdale keep him in that role? 

Knicks PG Elfrid Payton will miss Wednesday's game against the Pistons and Friday's game against the Mavericks as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury, the team said Tuesday.

Payton has missed the Knicks' last three games -- against Orlando on Oct. 30, against the Celtics on Friday, and Kings on Sunday. 

The 25-year-old Payton has started at point guard multiple times this season, with Frank Ntilikina and Allonzo Trier also getting starts -- though Trier was paired in the backcourt with RJ Barrett and wasn't technically acting as a point guard. 

Knicks starting point guard Elfird Payton has been ruled out for Wednesday night's road game against the Magic with a strained right hamstring. 

Payton, who exited Monday night's game against the Bulls after suffering the injury, traveled with the Knicks to Orlando in hopes of playing, but now has officially been ruled out.

Payton has averaged 8.0 points and 3.8 assists per game through four games in a Knicks uniform.

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In the NBA, teams usually get the day off after playing two consecutive games. But the Knicks lost in Brooklyn on Friday and were embarrassed at home by Boston on Saturday, so they lost the luxury of an off day on Sunday. 

"Coach Fiz was on our tails yesterday," Bobby Portis said. "We were supposed to have an off-day….We came in and still put the work in."

The work wasn't apparent early on Monday against Chicago. But a key adjustment in the second half - and some timely shooting from Portis - helped New York rebound from a 18-point deficit to win for the first time this season. 

While the Knicks were losing to the Celtics on Saturday night, fans at The Garden were chanting "WE WANT FRANK!" as a plead for Frank Ntilikina to get more minutes in head coach David Fizdale's lineup. 

The main reason that chant occurred in the first place was due to Dennis Smith Jr.'s early struggles with the Knicks this season. Smith is 1-for-11 from the field with three total points over 26 total minutes of play this year.

Well, Jazz star PG Donovan Mitchell doesn't want to hear it. 

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Here's how David Fizdale assessed what he saw from Julius Randle on Friday night: 

"He's pressing. I thought he was really pressing. He's one of our horses. I think a lot of it was just he was so hyped up for the game," Fizdale said. 

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David Fizdale says he has to watch the film of Wednesday's 120-111 loss to the Spurs before he decides who will start at point guard for the Knicks on Friday.

But it sounded like Elfrid Payton had earned the job.

"Elfrid absolutely put his foot forward, took it to heart and ramped up the competition," Fizdale said after the Knicks lost in San Antonio. "Like I said, I'm going to keep an open mind of this and whoever fights their way out of the pile, that's who's going to get the nod."

SAN ANTONIO - All the players battling for the Knicks' starting point guard spot will be coming off the bench to start the season. 

David Fizdale is going with a starting lineup of RJ Barrett, Allonzo Trier, Marcus Morris, Julius Randle, and Bobby Portis to start the season.

"I just like that combination of RJ and Allonzo Trier together," Fizdale said before tipoff of the Knicks' season-opener against the Spurs.

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The Knicks may have to change their lineups for opening night due to Mitchell Robinson's ankle injury.

Robinson sprained his right ankle in practice on Monday and is questionable for the Knicks' regular-season opener against the Spurs on Wednesday.

Prior to the injury, RJ Barrett, Marcus Morris and Julius Randle were expected to start against San Antonio. That may remain the case, but if Robinson can't play, Randle could slide to center. The Knicks could also start Bobby Portis at center in place of Robinson. Taj Gibson is another option, but he is currently questionable with a sore right calf.

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No decision on PG 

David Fizdale plans to name his starting lineup on Wednesday prior to the season opener against San Antonio. He said that scrimmages during the Knicks' final practices on Monday and Tuesday will factor in to who he chooses to start at point guard.

Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina and Elfrid Payton are competing for the position.

Smith Jr. missed nearly 10 days of training camp/preseason and showed some rust in the Knicks' final two preseason games. Fizdale said Smith Jr. has made shots during scrimmages, and the idea that he's a bit out of rhythm will factor in to Fizdale's decision on the starting point guard.

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If you've seen LeBron James' comments on the NBA-China controversy (and the reaction to those comments), you know that the ripple effects of Daryl Morey's tweet in support of demonstrators in Hong Kong will be felt for some time. 

There's plenty to unpack with this story: free speech issues, the NBA -- and many other companies -- conducting business with a country that critics say has a history of oppressing dissent, and the potential financial fallout for the league and its players from losing revenue from the business they do in China. 

It's way too early to predict how much revenue the league may lose in the aftermath of last week's events. But the lost revenue -- if it's high enough -- will have a tangible impact on the Knicks. 

When Kevin Durant signed with the Brooklyn Nets this summer, Knicks fans naturally felt spurned, having held out hope that the 10-time All-Star would bring the magic back to Madison Square Garden.

But what about Allonzo Trier? The second-year Knicks guard has a relationship with Durant that dates back to Trier's days as a high schooler in Oklahoma City, when Durant was a member of the Thunder.

When Kevin Durant signed with the Brooklyn Nets this summer, Knicks fans naturally felt spurned, having held out hope that the 10-time All-Star would bring the magic back to Madison Square Garden.

But what about Allonzo Trier? The second-year Knicks guard has a relationship with Durant that dates back to Trier's days as a high schooler in Oklahoma City, when Durant was a member of the Thunder.

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David Fizdale plans to use Julius Randle all over the floor this season. 

"I'm gonna have him handling pick-and-roll. I'm gonna have him setting pick-and-rolls. He'll post and (isolate) and I'll run pindowns for him, cross-screens and pindowns. For a guy like that with that kind of talent I wanna move him around and utilize the skillset from different parts of the floor," Fizdale said Wednesday. 

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Last week in New Jersey, several Knicks were in attendance for the NBA's Rookie Transition Program, a four-day event that the league and the NBPA put together to help rookies adjust to life as a pro athlete. Players listened to experts, ex-players and their peers discuss topics ranging from sexual health to social media.

"At the core of what we're doing is, 'How are you the best professional you can be? And how are you clear and concise in what your decision-making process is?" says Greg Taylor, the NBA's Head of Player Development. 

Second-year Knicks Mitchell Robinson and Allonzo Trier were among the players in attendance this year. Rookies RJ Barrett and Iggy Brazdeikis were there as well. 

With all the second-tier free-agent signees the Knicks brought in this offseason, the Magic's Aaron Gordon has one that he hopes thrives in particular. 

Elfrid Payton was sort of a under-the-radar signee with the likes of Julius Randle, Taj Gibson, and Bobby Portis joining the team as well. The Knicks already have Dennis Smith Jr. as well as Allonzo Trier, whose looking to follow up his stellar rookie season. And Frank Ntilikina is still looking to show the Knicks he was worthy of their first-round selection two years ago.

So it will be a battle to get solid minutes on the floor, let alone start for another former first-rounder in Payton. But Gordon, who was drafted just six picks ahead of Payton to the same Magic team, knows exactly what the point guard can bring to New York this season.

Allonzo Trier impressed in nearly every category in his first year as a Knick, and the organization saw enough through his first season to pick up his $3.5 million option for year two. But like any rookie, his first season highlighted areas calling for improvement.

His shooting became the primary area of refinement, but it wasn't the mechanics. Instead, it was the volume.

"The more I get off and I shoot at a high percentage, then it'll be good for us," Trier told Mike Vorkunov of the Athletic. "Not only myself, but as a basketball team. So that's one thing I've been focused on doing."

Bobby Portis has a lofty goal for his first season with the Knicks. 

The former first-round pick is hopeful the Knicks will win hardware as a team despite being big underdogs heading into 2019, but he's got a personal agenda as well. 

"I envision myself being a Sixth Man of the Year candidate," Portis told the New York Post." Last year I was in the running at the beginning of the season, playing well. That's in the back of my mind for sure. Naysayers will say I'm crazy. I feel it's going to come for me one day for sure. I play my role really well."

Ignas Brazdeikis was the 47th pick in the NBA Draft, so the casual fan may have been surprised to see him knocking down threes, executing spin moves and finishing around the rim in the Summer League.

But those that know Brazdeikis well weren't.

"He's always been able to score," Andrew Saulez, Brazdeikis' coach at Holy Trinity High School, says. "…. Some of the stuff that you saw at Michigan and at Summer League, the buckets that he gets at weird angles, using the glass, getting into the lane, spinning and scoring -- he's been doing that since Grade 6 or 7."

Brazdeikis averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists for New York in the Summer League. He also knocked down 11 of his 22 three-point attempts. It was only Summer League, so those who are penciling Brazdeikis in as Rookie of the Year are getting ahead of themselves.

We'll never know if the Knicks were interested in trading for Russell Westbrook. They never had the chance to make an offer. 

The Rockets and Thunder stunned the league on Thursday by agreeing to a deal that moved Westbrook to Houston in return for a package that included Chris Paul and first-round picks, per ESPN. 

The Knicks didn't have the money to match salaries in a Westbrook trade at the moment. They would have had to wait until Dec. 15 to include the free agents they signed the summer in a deal.

The Knicks' pursuit of Marcus Morris has reportedly paid off. 

League sources confirmed to SNY's Ian Begley that Morris plans to sign a one-year deal with the Knicks worth roughly $15 million. 

Begley reported earlier on Thursday that the Knicks believed that obtaining Morris as a free agent and re-working Reggie Bullock's deal was a likely scenario, per SNY sources.

The Knicks Summer League squad dropped Tuesday's game against Toronto by a final score of 85-73.

Five things to know about Tuesday's game...

1) RJ Barrett scored 17 points for the Knicks, including five in the first quarter. He also showed off his ability as a playmaker in the open court, tallying six assists. He also added 10 rebounds, having his best overall game to date.

2) The Knicks were without Allonzo Trier in Tuesday's game. According to the game broadcast, Trier was dealing with an illness, causing the Knicks to sit him.

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Unless they want to renege on agreements with their new free agents, the Knicks can't complete a trade for Russell Westbrook prior to December 15. They only have $4 million in cap space, not close to enough to absorb the $38.5 million he's scheduled to make next season. 

It would be incredibly damaging to the Knicks' relationships with agents if they reneged on free-agent agreements to acquire Westbrook, so you can forget about that option. 

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Kawhi Leonard signing with the Clippers makes it official: the Knicks have missed out on all of their top targets in free agency. But the biggest free agent they landed, Julius Randle, believes that fans will grow to appreciate the 2019-2020 team. 

"We've got dogs. We've got dudes who don't back down, who have killer mentalities. And that's what we need," Randle said on Friday night. "Getting back to the old school. Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, all of those guys. Toughness. A fight breaking every night. So, we're excited about that. That's our identity of our team, not backing down from nobody."

Randle offered his thoughts on several topics in a chat with reporters in Las Vegas: 

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LAS VEGAS -- RJ Barrett didn't shoot the ball well in his Summer League debut, but Knicks Coach Jud Buechler had a simple message for the rookie after the game: don't stop shooting.

"There were ups and downs in the game for him, which you expect out of a rookie. We saw a lot of things we liked," Buechler said, via the Knicks, after Barrett missed 14 of his 18 shots in 25 minutes against Zion Williamson and the Pelicans. "We will continue to encourage him to keep shooting and aren't worried about his shot not falling."

The Knicks' Summer League debut against the Pelicans was stopped with 7:53 left in the fourth quarter due to an earthquake.

The west coast experienced a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, suspending play at Las Vegas' Tomas & Mack Center. The Pelicans had an 80-74 lead when play was stopped in the fourth quarter.

Both teams left their benches for their respective locker rooms, as the video board and sound speakers above the court swung back and forth. 

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Kevin Knox has worked on his strength, efficiency and passing, among other things, so far in the offseason. And he's eager to get on the court in Summer League following a few weeks of training.

"I just feel so much more comfortable on the court now. I just feel stronger, have a (better) head on my shoulders," Knox said of playing in Summer League after going through his first NBA season. "Just having a year underneath my belt, I can watch a lot of film of what I need to work on and what I need to get better at. I just feel a lot stronger, a lot better on the court, a lot more confident, and more of a leader so I'll be able to talk and help the other guys out."

Knox, 20, said he's spent time in the weight room to add strength to his frame. The 6-foot-9 forward weighed 215 pounds at the start of last season.

Over the past weeks, months and years, Knicks fans have grown accustomed to waiting. Waiting for one of their young pieces to blossom, for the NBA Draft Lottery, the NBA Draft and free agency. 

All of that waiting and things have not really changed. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are headed to the rival Brooklyn Nets, and New York's faithful will have to sit patiently through yet another losing season for yet another promise of a return to glory. 

However, the Knicks completed a flurry of signings before the calendar even flipped to July, filling out a roster of legitimate NBA players -- something they haven't often possessed lately.

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If the Knicks draft him, RJ Barrett knows he'd be responsible for helping turn around a franchise that has won just one playoff series in the last 19 years. And he's OK with that.

"I feel like that would be a challenge that I'm willing to accept," Barrett said on Wednesday at the NBA's media availability for projected lottery picks.

The Knicks have met with Ja Morant and Cam Reddish, and worked out Darius Garland and Jarrett Culver. But the consensus among opposing execs is that they will take Barrett at No. 3 if they hold on to the pick. It's hard to say how likely a trade down is, but it would make sense for the Knicks to listen to offers until they are ready to make a pick.

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The Knicks have decided to pick up the $3.5 million option on Allonzo Trier's contract, SNY sources confirm. Trier, an undrafted guard out of Arizona, signed a two-way contract with New York after the 2019 draft which was converted to a traditional contract after his strong play as a rookie. 

New York still has ways to create enough cap space for two max free agents with the addition of Trier's $3.5 million for next season. 

The club plans to pursue max free agents, including Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, this offseason. 

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After Kevin Durant announced Wednesday afternoon that he ruptured his Achilles, the teams interested in Durant are probably asking themselves a question: Do we still pursue him in free agency?

If Durant declines his $31.5 million player option for next season, any team interested in signing him would have to be comfortable with him possibly being sidelined for the first year of his contract.

Would the Knicks, who have enough cap space to sign two max free agents, be comfortable with that scenario? We'll find out in a few weeks, but there are indeed some members of the organization who would consider offering Durant a contract this summer, per SNY sources. Durant is eligible for a four-year, $141 million max contract from New York or any other team looking to sign him away from the Warriors.

A few young Knicks and coaches plan to attend the next two NBA Finals games. 

Mitchell Robinson plans to attend Game 5 of Raptors-Warriors with assistant coach Pat Sullivan, per SNY sources. And Kevin Knox, Kadeem Allen, and Allonzo Trier plan to attend Game 4 of the Finals on Friday night, a source confirmed to SNY. 

Last year, David Fizdale brought Emmanuel Mudiay, Damyean Dotson, and Frank Ntilikina to a Celtics-Cavs playoff game. He wanted to show them the atmosphere of playoff basketball. After the season, he said he intended to do the same with the young Knicks from the 2018-19 team. 

Presumptive No. 3 pick RJ Barrett would welcome the opportunity to play for the Knicks. 

"It would be a lot of fun, playing in the Garden, the bright lights," Barrett said at a Pro Day hosted by his agency, BDA, in California on Tuesday. "They have so much history down there. It would be amazing."

If the Knicks don't select Barrett with the No. 3 overall pick, it would surprise evaluators who see this as a three-player draft (Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and Barrett). 

Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson has been named to the NBA's second All Rookie team.

Robinson's 2.4 blocks per game were the most for a rookie who played at least 35 games since Tim Duncan blocked 2.5 shots per game in 1997-98. He reached that per-game block number while playing 20.6 minutes per night.

The 21-year-old set franchise rookie records for total blocks (161) and blocks per game. He blocked at least two shots in 29 straight games - longest streak for a Knicks rookie and second longest in NBA history for a rookie behind Manute Bol's 45 straight games. Robinson is the 21st Knick to be named to an All-Rookie team.

Since the Knicks were given the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, only Patrick Ewing and Isiah Thomas have said something about missing out on the top selection and Zion Williamson. 

That is until team president Steve Mills spoke up at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago on Friday. 

Though he didn't talk for long, Mills said the team is excited to use their No. 3 pick to further their rebuilding process...

Only Pelicans executive VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin - and maybe a select few others close to him - knows exactly what New Orleans wants in a potential Anthony Davis trade.

Griffin reiterated on Tuesday that he's committed to trying to keep Davis in New Orleans. Landing the No. 1 overall pick in June gives him another potential selling point for Davis, but the smart money says he will still want to leave New Orleans. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported as much shortly after the Lottery.

So, assuming New Orleans has to deal Davis this summer, which teams can make the best offers? And how can the Knicks push themselves to the front of that group?

Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter | : Kyrie Irving didn't give a direct answer when he was asked late Wednesday night about the possibility of re-signing with the Celtics.

"For me, it's just moving on to the next thing and seeing where it ends up," Irving told reporters after the Celtics' series-ending loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday.

That's an encouraging sign for those who hope to see Irving at Madison Square Garden next season.

The free agent hunt is already on for the New York Knicks, and head coach David Fizdale is one of the main persuaders trying to make the case for the blue and orange. 

Fizdale joined ESPN's "The Jump" on Monday to talk about what makes the Knicks an attractive free agency destination, and he admits he likes the plan team president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry have put together. 

"[We're having] a lot of conversations, a lot of angles that we're trying to make sure that we show guys when they come in," Fizdale said. "I think we've got a lot of positive things to show. [GM] Scott Perry and [president] Steve Mills have done a heck of a job laying this thing out. We've got the most cap space. We have seven picks over five years, which means whoever we do get, we can continue to build around them, and I think that's a great position to be in. We did all that in a course of a year and we laid down our culture, so I'm really excited about where we're at."

Allonzo Trier was one of the few bright spots for the Knicks this season, but things may not have been so smooth behind closed doors. 

Per Marc Berman of The Post, veterans on the Knicks were displeased with Trier's one-on-one style of play and believed it had an adverse effect on the team's culture. 

"His play on the court was cancerous," an NBA source told The Post. "A lot of guys didn't like the way he didn't play team ball. He cared about himself too much. He looked guys off who were open."

One of the worst seasons in New York Knicks history is over. A 17-65 record will be tough to swallow, but arguably the franchise's biggest offseason ever is fast approaching. This roster made up of raw talent and NBA vagabonds could look anywhere from completely different to mostly the same this time next year. Here's how each key player fared this season, and whether they should stay or go:

Kevin Knox

Barring an Anthony Davis trade, Knox is likely to remain a Knick, and fans should be cautiously optimistic about his future. Although his numbers as a whole were shoddy, there's a lot that is easily fixable, such as taking off a step too early or knowing when to go to the floater vs. attacking the defender's body. He had some solid stretches scattered across an underwhelming season: 43 percent three-point shooting in March, for example. The goal is for him to be a complete player, but we've yet to see tangible improvements much of anywhere,. That's okay, he's very young, and clearly filled with talent.

Knicks coach David Fizdale would like to be able to choose from a deep roster but injuries are piling up.

Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. has missed the last six games with a sore back, rookie guard Allonzo Trier has missed the last three games with a strained calf and forward Noah Vonleh has missed the last five games with a sprained right ankle.

Smith, Trier, and Vonleh may be out again Thursday and the trio could be joined on the sidelines by rookie forward Kevin Knox.

Knox sprained his right ankle with 32 seconds left in the first half of a 124-113 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Knox was injured when his foot collided with Los Angeles guard Patrick Beverley's on a 3-point attempt.

The Jazz come to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks tonight, but New York will be without a few key contributors in this one. 

The most notable is PG Dennis Smith Jr., who head coach David Fizdale said threw out his back. The team is expecting to re-evaluate him next week as he will likely miss at least three more games. The Knicks could deem Smith done for the season if the evaluation says so. 

And that isn't the only guard the Knicks will be without. Allonzo Trier has a calf injury that will keep him out, while Frank Ntilikina isn't quite ready to return from his groin injury. Ntilikina practice with G-League Westchester on Tuesday, but he is expected to practice once again and be ready to make his awaited return this weekend. 

Knicks PG Frank Ntilikina has finally been cleared to practice, and it couldn't have came at a better time. 

According to the Daily News' Stefan Bondy, the 20-year-old former first rounder will be practicing with G-League Westchester on Tuesday as the Knicks are traveling back from Toronto following a 128-92 blowout on Monday night. Ntilikina has been sidelined for weeks with a groin injury, but if everything goes well at practice, he could be suiting up against the Jazz at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. 

That would be the best case scenario for Ntilikina, who needs these last 11 games of the season to prove he is still worth it to the Knicks. It doesn't look good for Ntilikina to stay in orange and blue next season, especially with new point guard Dennis Smith Jr. coming over from Dallas in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. The Knicks also have Allonzo Trier, Emmanuel Mudiay and Damyean Doston all under contract for 2019.