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Another game, another Tom Thibodeau option not named Kemba Walker. And another loss.
Walker was a DNP-CD for an eighth straight game since Thibodeau officially demoted to him to 15th man.
The point guard choice of the night during this COVID-19-affected depletion was rookie Miles McBride, who logged a season-high 20:14 and drained his first two 3-pointers of the first half. In his first real action, the second-round pick from West Virginia finished with eight points and no turnovers, shooting 3 of 8 from the field — 2 of 4 from 3.
One conspiracy theory is the Knicks have a Walker trade in place and don’t want to risk injury to his arthritic left knee. Walker, a 2021 free agent, is eligible to be traded beginning Wednesday.
In his first comments about Walker’s banishment, Derrick Rose, who started a second straight game at point guard, said Walker is showing no signs of losing it.
“Kemba, we got pretty close since he’s been here,’’ Rose said. “I know it’s hard. But he’s had a great attitude, he’s been coming in early, same routine. His vibration and spirit still been very high in games, off the court. It’s kind of hard to put myself in his shoes. If he is feeling a way about it, s–t, I can’t tell.’’
Thibodeau was delighted by how McBride handled his first real assignment.
“We see it in practice, when he’s had opportunities in the G-League, he’s played really well there as well,’’ Thibodeau said. “He played well in the summer league. It’s good for him to have an opportunity like that. All the things that he’s working on every day and then to get into a game situation and to see it unfold, it’s good, it’s positive. Our young guys are really hard playing and they’re coming along.’’
However, since the demotion, the Knicks are 1-7.
Evan Fournier, whose contract can be dealt, too, beginning Wednesday, had one of his worst outings — going 1 of 5 for two points in 28 minutes. Thibodeau said “patience’’ still is needed with the Frenchman.
The Warriors are the surprise story of the NBA, jumping to a 23-5 record after Tuesday’s win even without Klay Thompson. The dynasty ain’t dead.
“It’s good to be back in this position where we have a really good record and teams are getting up to play us again,’’ said coach Steve Kerr, whose club made the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2019. “It’s a good position to be in. We have to be prepared every night.’’
Because of mechanical problems with their charter plane, the Warriors were detained overnight in Indianapolis Monday night and didn’t get to New York until 1 p.m. Tuesday. No biggie, said Kerr.
“I told coaches it’s still better than the old days when we flew commercial,’’ Kerr said. “It was routine to fly day of the game on a back-to-back. We weren’t on Continental. We flew charter.’’
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