Thursday 28th March 2024,
The Hoop Doctors

Kristaps Porzingis Dealing with Back Spasms, Knicks Unsure if He’ll Play Again This Season

Kristaps Porzingis

The New York Knicks are scheduled for an early offseason vacation, and Kristaps Porzingis’ getaway might begin earlier than that.

The 7’3″ skyscraper is dealing with back spasms that have kept him out of the Knicks’ last two games. And following the team’s Thursday night loss to the Washington Wizards, head coach Jeff Hornacek intimated that the Latvian lord may be shut down for the rest of the season, per ESPN.com’s Ian Begley:

This is a no-brainer call.

For starters, the Knicks obviously need to play it safe. They’re going nowhere, and Porzingis is only 21. He has his entire career ahead of him. No sense risking further injury, when he’s already dealt with so many, so that he can make a cameo in three meaningless games.

Equally important, Porzingis’ absence is good for the Knicks’ tank. They’re currently on pace to finish with the NBA’s sixth-worst record. But they’re only two games off the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, who are tied for the league’s fourth-worst record.

It’s unlikely the Knicks fall past either of them, but with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings each two games in front of them in the loss column, Porzingis’ sabbatical should ensure they don’t inadvertently climb another spot or two in the standings.

Silver linings, yo.

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