SAN ANTONIO — RJ Barrett’s lacerated right index finger will keep him out of the Knicks’ lineup Thursday night against the Spurs and likely at least a week, a source confirmed.
Barrett left Tuesday’s overtime loss in Dallas less than two minutes into the game with a bloodied hand after a reach-in by Mavericks star Luka Doncic. The source added that Barrett, who has appeared in every game for the Knicks this season, “could come back sooner” than a week.
Jalen Brunson also hadn’t missed a game this season until sitting out in Dallas against his former team with a sore hip, suffered Sunday against the 76ers. He has been listed as questionable for a second straight game for Thursday night.
Barrett is averaging 19.7 points per game through 35 appearances, dipping below the 20-point mark because of his scoreless two-minute stint against the Mavericks. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game that he was unaware whether Barrett received stitches, and the team had no availability on Wednesday after flying to San Antonio.
Knicks guard RJ Barrett drives to the basket against the 76ers on Dec. 25, 2022. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
Knicks guard RJ Barrett reacts on the court during the first half of a game against the 76ers on Dec. 25, 2022. Noah K. Murray-NY PostWith Barrett expected to be sidelined against the Spurs, the Knicks will be down to three players — Julius Randle, Immanuel Quickley and Isaiah Hartenstein — to not have missed any time this season due to injury.
Second-year guard Miles McBride exceeded his previous career-high of 36 minutes by 10 in Tuesday’s overtime loss, scoring 14 points in 46 minutes of action. His previous high this season was a 27-minute stint Dec. 7 against the Hawks. He’d logged 36 in Houston on Dec. 16, 2021, during his rookie campaign.
“It felt good. I’ve felt like I’ve been doing great conditioning, playing more minutes than I did last year, obviously, so that’s helped,” McBride said. “It would have been better if we got a win.”
