Taj Gibson played in moderation since re-signing with the Knicks in January, but the veteran man offered the Knicks a defensive lift Sunday night at the Garden.
With starting center Mitchell Robinson eliminated after hand surgery and Nerlens’ replacement Noel failed, Gibson was leveled with All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns and came up with a key stop in the final seconds of his victory. Knicks 103-99 over Minnesota.
With the Knicks ahead 99-98 and with 23.2 seconds left, Towns (27 points) missed a short jump.
“Mentally, to be ready, for my colleagues, just trying to inspire, trying to do what I have to do,” said Gibson, who has been a T’Wolves teammate since 2017-19. “Just not letting KAT get in the way. I’ve been around him for a long time to know that he wants to get in the middle of the lane and try to shoot with a rolling hook or a floating hook.
“It was a struggle. I knew she was coming to him. I was lucky tonight. I just tried to use my body and fight. ”
Former lottery Frank Ntilikina has appeared in just four games this season – and none since his right knee injury on Dec. 29. He also spent a week in solitary confinement in his Miami hotel room earlier this month following up on COVID-19 contact, despite continuing to test negative for the virus.
“It certainly wasn’t the best, but it was probably for everyone’s health,” Ntilikina said. “I did my best to just do some exercises in the room. I couldn’t do much. I tried to stay locked [in], stay focused on the season and each goal. ”
Knicks had planned to send a little-used guard Dennis Smith Jr. in the G-League for in-game action before being traded to Detroit for Derrick Rose, but Tom Thibodeau he said “not yet” when asked if such a mission was being considered for Ntilikina.
Austin Rivers he has only totaled five minutes in the last five games, but he was unavailable on Sunday due to illness.