Starting point guard Jalen Brunson missed his second straight game with a sore left foot for the Knicks on Tuesday night, but Immanuel Quickley couldn’t post another stellar performance.
Quickley, who played 55 minutes and scored 38 points in Sunday’s double-overtime win over Boston, scored just 14 on 5-of-16 shooting in Tuesday’s 112-105 loss to the Hornets.
“Obviously we went into double overtime, but I’ve got to play better than that,” Quickley said. “But we will learn from it, I know I will. Watch the film, see how we improve and move on to the next game (Sacramento on Thursday).
“I’m fine. There’s no excuses. It’s just finding ways to win the game. We did it in Boston. So we’ve got to do it every night we can.”
Tom Thibodeau said Brunson was “much better today” but “wasn’t ready yet” to return to the lineup. He added that Brunson will accompany the Knicks on their four-game trip out West.
Immanuel Quickley, who scored just 14 points, led the Knicks in a 112-105 loss to the Hornets.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Asked if the $104 million player would be fit to play if Tuesday’s game was a playoff contest, Thibodeau said: “I leave that up to the doctors and the player. For me, I know he’ll play if he can play and if the doctors and he feels he needs another day ago, then we’ll give him the day. We love our depth. The next guy, come in and do it.”
Obi Toppin hit a key 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, but finished 1-4 from long range and is mired in 7-39 shooting from beyond the arc in his last 13 appearances.
“Just, if you’re open, shoot,” Thibodeau said. “I think he had a great streak in the Boston game in a shutout. So just read the game, the game will tell you what to do.
“I think we are getting a very good percentage from three of the last 10 as well. I think everyone shares this responsibility, it doesn’t have to be just one boy.”
LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Cody Martin (knee) are out for the Hornets.