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Miles McBride’s absence poses a serious threat to the New York Knicks’ NBA Cup bid.
The New York Knicks will be without one of their most productive emerging contributors as they head into Tuesday night’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Toronto Raptors. The team officially ruled out Miles McBride with a left ankle sprain, according to the league’s injury report.
McBride exited the Knicks’ practice facility Monday in a walking boot, the New York Post reported. Head coach Mike Brown told the media that the 25-year-old guard was en route to undergo an MRI after initial X-rays came back negative.
“I actually asked him that before he went to get an MRI,” Brown said when questioned about whether McBride would travel. “He said he doesn’t know.”
How McBride Was Injured During Knicks’ Win Over Orlando
McBride appeared to injure the ankle in the 106–100 win against the Orlando Magic, when he drove to the basket in the second half and fell to the court, visibly in pain. Despite the injury, he rose to sink his foul shots before exiting.
The setback comes during what had quietly evolved into McBride’s breakout stretch of the season. Over his last seven games, he averaged 14.6 points while shooting a blistering 57.4% from three-point range, playing critical minutes in the absence of Landry Shamet, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Brown described McBride’s role as essential to how New York structures its rotation behind starting point guard Jalen Brunson.
“You guys watch us enough — we don’t put a ton of pressure on our backup point guard to make plays for everybody else,” Brown told reporters. “I call the position a push-man initiator… as long as we have guys who can pass, dribble or shoot, we feel good.”
McBride’s Value: Production, Contract, and Critical Timing
McBride is averaging career highs with 11.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc, cementing himself as one of the league’s most cost-efficient contracts — the second year of a three-year, $13 million deal.
Brunson praised McBride’s growth and impact.
“He’s been playing phenomenal,” the Knicks captain said. “Healthy or not, Deuce has been remarkable this year… everything he’s doing has impacted winning.”
Brunson emphasized that McBride’s possible absence will be deeply felt.
“If things do happen (that he misses games), then yeah, obviously we’re missing a huge piece of our team,” Brunson added.
Knicks’ Injury Picture: Towns Questionable; Raptors Missing RJ Barrett
The Knicks may also be missing Karl-Anthony Towns, who is listed as questionable with left calf tightness after sitting out Sunday’s matchup. Brown said the team is “still evaluating” Towns ahead of the trip to Toronto.
The Raptors, meanwhile, remain without former Knicks forward RJ Barrett, who continues to recover from a right knee sprain. Toronto announced Barrett has received a platelet-rich plasma injection, with the team planning to update his status next week. Barrett has not played since Nov. 23 and had averaged 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists before the injury.
NBA Cup Stakes: Knicks vs. Raptors Round Two
The Knicks dominated the Raptors 116–94 at Madison Square Garden in their first meeting of the season, but Tuesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal presents a new challenge — particularly without their rapidly ascending sixth man.
McBride’s absence trims a rotation already thin at guard and removes one of the Knicks’ top perimeter shooting weapons at the moment the team is attempting to push toward the semifinal stage of the league’s new in-season tournament.
Whether McBride’s injury is a short-term setback or something more impactful awaits clarity — and the Knicks’ quest for the NBA Cup now moves forward without one of its most reliable recent contributors.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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