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Taj Gibson has played sparingly since re-signing with the Knicks in January, but the veteran big man provided the Knicks with a defensive lift Sunday night at the Garden.
With starting center Mitchell Robinson sidelined after hand surgery and substitute Nerlens Noel fouled, Gibson faced big man All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and made a key save in the final seconds of the Knicks’ 103-99 win over Minnesota. .
With the Knicks ahead 99-98 with 23.2 seconds left, Towns (27 points) missed a short jumper.
“Mentally, to be ready, for my teammates, just trying to inspire, trying to do what I have to do,” said Gibson, who was a Towns teammate with the 2017-19 T’Wolves. . “I don’t let KAT get in the middle. I’ve been with him for quite a while to know he wants to get in the middle of the lane and try to shoot a running hook or a floating hook.
“It was a fight. I knew it was happening to him. I was lucky tonight. I just tried to use my body and fight.
Old lottery choice Frank Ntilikina has appeared in just four games this season – and none since his right knee injury on December 29. He also spent a week in isolation in his Miami hotel room earlier this month for COVID-19 contact tracing, despite continually testing negative for the virus. .
“It was certainly not the best, but it was probably for everyone’s health,” said Ntilikina. “I did my best to do some exercises in the gym. I couldn’t do much. I tried to stay locked [in], stay focused on the season and on each goal.
The Knicks had planned to send a lightly used guard Dennis Smith Jr. to the G-League for the game before he was traded to Detroit for Derrick Rose, But Tom thibodeau replied “not yet” when asked if such an assignment was considered for Ntilikina.
Austin rivers had totaled just five minutes in the previous five games, but was unavailable Sunday due to illness.
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