New York Knicks guard Miles McBride’s return to the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t go as planned on Sunday.
McBride injured his groin during his first game back in almost two months due to a sports hernia, and the Knicks fell 111-100 to the Thunder on the road. While things didn’t go the Knicks’ way on Sunday, a Philadelphia 76ers loss on Monday against the Miami Heat will give New York a playoff spot.
Meanwhile, McBride’s status remains in question. McBride’s injury occurred during the third quarter against the Thunder, and Knicks head coach Mike Brown had a limited update after the game as New Daily News reporter Kristian Winfield indicated on Sunday night.
“Mike Brown said he’s unsure if Miles McBride’s injury was an aggravation of his sports hernia surgery,”Winfield wrote via X. “‘I haven’t talked to medical yet so I don’t know how it is, but it’s tough. He’s worked his tail off to be back and I don’t think he made a shot in the first half but he gave us a lift. You felt his presence and he made us deeper.’”
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New York will want him healthy for the postseason at the very least. The Knicks sit at 48-27 for third-place in the Eastern Conference and second in the Atlantic Division behind the Boston Celtics (50-24). Philadelphia (41-33) is 6.5 games back of the Knicks in the standings.
Boston and the Detroit Pistons (54-20) have clinched playoff spots so far. New York is 2.5 games back of the Celtics and 6.5 games back of the Pistons in the conference race.
Miami comes into Monday’s game with the 76ers in the thick of the playoff race at 39-36 with the No. 9 spot in the East. The Heat have sputtered of late with seven losses in the past nine games.
Philadelphia has won four of the past five games, and the Sixers split the first two meetings with Miami this season. If the Knicks don’t receive the favor from Philly on Monday, New York can clinch on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets on the road.
New York won the first meeting of the season against Houston at Madison Square Garden. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 25 points and seven rebounds in that win.
Whether the Knicks clinch a postseason spot with another win over the Rockets or a 76ers loss beforehand, the Knicks will clinch a playoff spot for the fifth time in six years.
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