Cameron Payne

Knicks Notes: Brunson, Kolek, McBride, Playoffs

March 23rd, 2025 at 4:00pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Knicks All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson, who is expected to miss another week as he continues to recover from a sprained right ankle, has missed New York’s last eight games as a result of the injury. According to Ryan Dunleavy of The New York Post, one benefit of Brunson’s absence has been extended run for some the club’s younger backcourt options and role players.

“You are not replacing Jalen individually,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s impossible. We have to do it collectively with our defense and rebounding and playing together.”

With Brunson’s usual backup Miles McBride a late scratch ahead of Saturday’s Washington clash due to a groin issue, veteran Cameron Payne drew the starter, while rookie Tyler Kolek logged a career-high 18 minutes and handed out eight dimes. Kolek often fed forward Mikal Bridges, who was in the midst of a solid shooting run.

“It was big-time for us having Ty out there finding ’Kal constantly,” Payne said.

There’s more out of New York:

Kolek’s big night has made him an intriguing possibility for backup minutes behind Brunson going forward. Dexter Henry and Bryan Fonseca of The New York Post wonder if he could wind up being the Knicks’ best reserve option for Brunson sooner rather than later, and what his path to a consistent rotation role might look like.
Kolek will probably get another shot at major minutes for the Knicks again on Tuesday, as McBride is considered likely to sit out Tuesday’s showdown with Dallas due to his groin injury, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (via Twitter). When healthy, McBride has been solid for New York this season. In 59 available bouts, he’s averaging 9.4 points per game on .407/.371/.817 shooting.
At 44-26 on the year, the Knicks seem to be more or less locked into the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 overall seed. Three clubs are jockeying for the right secure home-court advantage and the No. 4 seed behind them. The 41-29 Pacers are currently in that slot, just one game up on the 40-30 Bucks, and 2.5 games ahead of the 39-32 Pistons. James L. Edwards III of The Athletic evaluates the pluses and minuses of each of those clubs as potential first-round playoff foes for New York, identifying the team that should ultimately be the Knicks’ preferred matchup (Milwaukee).

Knicks Notes: McBride, Towns, Ewing, Anunoby, Hart

March 10th, 2025 at 12:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Miles McBride wasn’t happy with his first performance while replacing Jalen Brunson as the Knicks‘ starting point guard, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. McBride, who’s expected to fill that role while Brunson recovers from a sprained right ankle, was limited to seven points while shooting 2-of-13 from the field in Friday’s loss to the Clippers.

“We didn’t win, so any time we don’t win, I don’t think I played well enough. I think anybody can always shoot the ball better. I think defensively there were some plays I could have had, probably could have come up with some more rebounds,” McBride said. “Full complete game, I feel like I could have upped it a lot more.”

The Knicks believe in McBride’s ability to run the offense while Brunson is sidelined, Bondy adds, noting that he did it for five games last season. It was a poor shooting night for the team overall, as New York was thrown off rhythm by L.A.’s switching defense.

“When he’s starting, the ball is in his hands more,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “With the second unit, he was more off the ball and (Cameron Payne) handled more. But Deuce can do it. I’ve seen him have huge games there. So I have a lot of confidence in his ability.”

There’s more on the Knicks:

Karl-Anthony Towns is thrilled to be learning about the game from Knicks legend Patrick Ewing, who joined the team as a coaching consultant before the start of the season, Bondy states in another piece. Ewing has attended several games this year, including both contests last week in Los Angeles, and he was at Sunday’s practice. “You always learn a little bit here and then you ask him for that help and he’s been in the situations, especially here in New York,” Towns said. “So his wisdom is priceless and his game is obviously on a Hall of Fame level. So getting a chance to sit with him, talk with him about basketball, about what I can do to be better from my spot, is awesome.”
Extensive preparation enables OG Anunoby to excel on defense, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Anunoby spends a lot of time studying players’ tendencies when they have the ball and learning tricks by watching film of other elite defenders. “I like players who play hard on defense, so I’ll watch Alex Caruso and the stuff he’s doing — the active hands and aggressiveness,” Anunoby said. “If he’s doing this, I can do that, too.”
Josh Hart is trying to find the right balance between taking care of his aching knees and staying sharp on the court, per Steve Popper of Newsday. “It all depends,” Hart said. “I will take a couple of days off, feel good, go out and shoot for 10 minutes and then it swells up again. It’s just a constant process of playing, resting, getting that inflammation out, and then just cut and paste and keep doing it.”

Jalen Brunson Sprains Ankle, Out At Least Two Weeks

March 7th, 2025 at 6:04pm CST by Rory Maher

6:04 pm: Brunson has been diagnosed with a sprained right ankle and will be reevaluated in two weeks, the Knicks announced today (via Twitter). X-rays on the ankle were negative, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Twitter link).

8:18 am: Knicks star Jalen Brunson badly rolled his right ankle when he landed on Austin Reaves‘ foot with 1:24 remaining in overtime during Thursday’s road loss to the Lakers (YouTube link).

While Brunson was able to stay in to shoot (and make) two free throws after being fouled on the drive, he left the game immediately afterward, slowly and carefully limping off the court.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link), there’s optimism that Brunson sustained a sprained ankle and not something more serious.

Still, it’s worth noting that the severity of ankle sprains can vary drastically — a mild sprain might cause a player to only miss a game or two, while a major sprain can see a player sidelined for months. Brandon Ingram has missed four months and counting with a “significant” sprain, with no timetable for a return.

Former teammate Luka Doncic checked in on Brunson after the game, according to Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link). While Doncic said Brunson told him he’d be OK, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said the team’s point guard was still being evaluated.

“He’s being examined,” Thibodeau said. “I haven’t spoken with him. He was back with the medical people. … His mental toughness is through the roof. It doesn’t surprise me (that he stayed in to shoot free throws). The way he played the whole game, they were loaded up on him the whole game.”

Close friend Josh Hart expects Brunson to miss some time due to the injury, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.

“Obviously it’s a bummer of an injury. We’ve got to expect him to be out for a little bit,” Hart said. “We’ve got guys. Now we have to step up. Other guys’ roles are going to be bigger. There’s more opportunity. Keep it afloat until he comes back, be aggressive, go out there and compete.”

Brunson, who finished with 39 points and 10 assists, is New York’s team captain. He has made All-Star appearances each of the past two seasons, leads the team in points and assists per game, and is the Knicks’ go-to option in crunch time.

As James L. Edwards III of The Athletic writes, any type of extended absence for Brunson would clearly be detrimental to the club, especially on offense, even if it has all but secured a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The team has looked a little shaky over the past few months, according to Edwards, who points out that Brunson has frequently bailed out the offense late in games.

In a subscriber-only story for The Post, Bondy argues that Miles McBride and Karl-Anthony Towns will need to step up while Brunson is out. Cameron Payne is among the other candidates for an increased role.

Atlantic Notes: Payne, Knicks’ Trades, Raptors Rebuild, George

January 13th, 2025 at 5:55pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Backup guard Cameron Payne had his second-highest scoring output of the season for the Knicks on Sunday, pouring in 18 points in 14 minutes during the team’s romp past Milwaukee.

“He’s someone who’s very capable of scoring the ball at a high level,” forward Josh Hart told Andrew Crane of the New York Post. “Obviously, playing behind (Jalen Brunson), sometimes he doesn’t get those opportunities. But we know what he’s capable of, and that’s just gonna continue to fuel his confidence and our confidence in him.”

Payne is playing on a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal.

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

The Knicks are operating near a second-apron hard cap, so there are limitations to what they could do on the trade market. The Athletic’s James Edwards suggests a number of lower-level acquisitions they could consider, including Simone Fontecchio, Nick Richards and Alec Burks.
The Raptors have lost three times to the much-improved Pistons and they can take valuable lessons away from Detroit’s rebuilding efforts, Michael Grange of Sportsnet writes. It has taken the Pistons several years to show real progress and Toronto could go through the same process unless it lands a superstar talent via the lottery. “They’ve built it up and, guys have a little more experience, and they bring in a couple more vets who play with those younger guys,” Kelly Olynyk said of the Pistons. “And, you know, you start to build that culture back up, and that those habits up. I mean, it takes what is that, three years, four years before you’re able to really kind of put plan together and put something together on the floor, so … it’s not going to happen overnight. We got to be a little bit patient, but it’ll come together and start to break.”
The Sixers have dropped five of their last seven games. Paul George says they can’t wait any longer to turn things around, Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia relays. “It’s not panic mode, but there’s sort of a desperation that we need to start to play with,” George said. “And look at every game like it matters. From this point forward, every game matters. I think we do have to approach it in that manner, because it’s not going to get any easier.”

Knicks Notes: Anunoby, Achiuwa, Towns, Payne, Robinson

December 9th, 2024 at 9:02am CST by Arthur Hill

OG Anunoby isn’t sure what sort of reaction to expect as he prepares for his first game in Toronto since being traded last December, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Anunoby was injured when the Knicks traveled to Canada in March, so tonight will mark his official return in front of Raptors fans.

Anunoby is putting up career-best scoring numbers in his first full season in New York, averaging 17.7 points per game while shooting 49% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range. After playing his first six-and-a-half seasons in Toronto, he is firmly established as part of the Knicks’ foundation, signing a five-year, $212.5MM contract during the offseason.

“It’ll be great to see my friends, the staff, and just the people of Canada,” Anunoby said.

Precious Achiuwa, who came to the Knicks in the same trade, already had his return game in Toronto, posting 19 points and 12 rebounds in a victory last season. Achiuwa has only played two games since coming back from a hamstring injury that he suffered during the preseason, but he was able to log 26 minutes and grab 10 rebounds Saturday night.

“He made a big impact, and I’m not surprised,” Anunoby said. “That’s what he’s always done. He’s a really talented player, a special player, who can do a lot at both ends. The more opportunities he gets, the more he’ll thrive. So it’s not surprising.”

There’s more on the Knicks:

The team isn’t sure about the status of Karl-Anthony Towns or Cameron Payne, who are both listed as questionable for tonight after missing Saturday’s game, Botte adds. Towns was a late scratch due to right knee patellar tendinopathy, while Payne is dealing with a left elbow effusion.
Josh Hart cites early-game “lulls” as the reason the team has been falling behind recently, Botte states in a separate story. The Knicks were able to overcome deficits against Orlando and Charlotte last week, but they couldn’t do it again Saturday against Detroit after falling behind by 16 points. Several players pointed to miscommunication on defense as the Pistons scored 39 points in the first quarter. “I think communication is the biggest thing. A lot of transition, just no communication, just not talking to each other,” Mikal Bridges said. “And it’s not like we don’t like each other or anything. It’s just that sense of urgency, trying to help each other out. And we ain’t trying to do it on purpose or be a bad person. We’ve just gotta be better. We’ve just gotta be able to talk. We’ve gotta build that.”
Coach Tom Thibodeau provided a brief medical update on Mitchell Robinson, saying the injured center is making “good, steady progress” in his return from offseason ankle surgery (Twitter video link from SNY).

Knicks Notes: R. Brunson, Sims, Payne, Kolek, Achiuwa

December 4th, 2024 at 9:27pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The NBA has closed its inquiry into the Knicks‘ decision to promote assistant coach Rick Brunson, sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link).

Brunson, the father of All-NBA New York point guard Jalen Brunson, was recently promoted to a lead assistant gig under head coach Tom Thibodeau. Rick Brunson earned his new role with the Knicks during the same offseason his son inked a four-year, $157MM contract extension to stay with the team long-term.

Jalen Brunson would have been eligible for a five-year maximum contract worth an estimated $269MM had he waited to reach free agency this summer, so the belief is that the NBA was poking around to make sure there was no cap circumvention involved in Rick’s promotion and raise.

The elder Brunson, a former league journeyman guard, has been a coach since 2007 and has served on staffs in Denver, Chicago, Charlotte and Minnesota. He has been working under Thibodeau in New York since 2022, the same summer Jalen joined the team as a free agent.

There’s more out of New York:

Knicks reserve center Jericho Sims is becoming an underappreciated defender, thanks in large part to his athletic upside and abilities as a rim protector, contends Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Sims is limiting opposing players to connecting on just 33% of their buckets within six feet of the rack, Bondy notes. By contrast, All-Star starter Karl-Anthony Towns is allowing players he’s matched up against to make 73.2% of their takes from the same area. “He’s really worked hard at it,” Thibodeau said of Sims. “Very athletic. Great feet. And making the right decision at the right time. His athleticism is through the roof. He can react very quickly. And you need that. The rim protection is huge.”
Backup Knicks point guard Cameron Payne, a former lottery pick, is hoping to not have to head back overseas anytime soon, writes James L. Edwards of The Athletic. “The biggest experience was me getting waived and going overseas,” Payne said. “I was just like, ‘I will not ever go back overseas.’ I credit the little things like getting on the floor, the things people don’t do. I take that to the game every night. I don’t want to go back overseas. That’s my identity. I’m going to play my heart out and do whatever I have to do to help the team win.” Payne played for Chinese club Shanxi Loongs in 2019, but ultimately returned stateside to play in the G League. He reasserted himself as an NBA player during a productive stint with the Suns that began in 2020 and has been a journeyman backup ever since. Payne’s solid ball control and efficient three-point shooting have made him a staple in Thibodeau’s rotation.
Elsewhere in the same Edwards article, rookie Knicks guard Tyler Kolek discussed what it was like to prepare for the draft over the summer. “In the summertime, what I’m working on is whatever I think I need to get better at,” Kolek said. “I feel like every summer I’ve improved, going back to college and even high school. Even during this year, I’m still learning. I’m just trying to gain the trust of my teammates and trust of my coaches and pull as much as I can from.” The 6’1″ guard was selected with the No. 34 pick out of Marquette by the Trail Blazers, who traded his draft rights to the Knicks. Kolek has played sparingly this season, averaging 3.1 points per game on .417/.429/1.000 shooting splits in 14 outings.
Knicks reserve big man Precious Achiuwa, who has missed the entire season so far with a left hamstring strain, has seen his injury status upgraded to questionable for this time this year for Thursday’s game vs. Charlotte, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter). Achiuwa re-signed a one-year, $6MM with the Knicks this offseason.

Knicks Notes: Bridges, Payne, McBride, Defense, Thibodeau

November 24th, 2024 at 8:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Poor shooting has been an issue for Mikal Bridges ever since he joined the Knicks, and Saturday it kept him on the bench for almost the entire fourth quarter of a loss at Utah, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Bridges didn’t play in the game’s final 10 minutes after going 3-of-15 from the field and 1-of-7 from three-point range. It continued a difficult season in which he’s posting .469/.304/.636 shooting splits.

“Obviously I was struggling, but our biggest thing is to win,” Bridges said. “(Cameron Payne) came in and he was playing well. He was part of that team that was making that run. I was more just frustrated that I couldn’t be out there to help the team and frustrated that the first three quarters I was out there I couldn’t really do much. But yeah, I understand it. We’re trying to win a game, and that’s all I care about, so I think that was the right decision.”

Coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters that he opted to keep Payne in the game because he brought energy to the team, particularly during a 17-0 run in the third quarter that nearly erased a big deficit. Payne wound up playing 31 minutes off the bench and finished with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists.

“I was just looking for anything that could get us going,” Thibodeau said. “And it wasn’t just Mikal. Cam I thought came in and he gave us a big spark. I almost went back to Jericho (Sims) at the end because I thought his minutes were good for us, as well. When you get down like we did, you’re just searching for anything to get you going. That’s really what we were doing.”

There’s more on the Knicks:

Miles McBride was updated to questionable on Saturday, but still missed his fifth straight game, Botte adds in a separate story. The team is now calling his injury “patella femoral syndrome,” which is more commonly known as “runner’s knee.” “He’s out,” Thibodeau said before the game. “He’s close. He’s doing more, but he’s not quite there. We’ll see where he is tomorrow.”
The Knicks were disappointed that their defense couldn’t save them on an overall poor shooting night, per Steve Popper of The New York Post. They built a strong defensive reputation last season, but haven’t been able to reach that same level so far. “We’ve been struggling on the defensive side for the whole season,” Josh Hart said. “When you’re not making shots and you’re not playing well defensively, that’s a recipe for disaster. We’ve got to figure it out on the defensive end. Offensively, we’ve got enough talent on the offensive side where, even if certain guys aren’t going that day, to play well and to win games. But we’ve got to figure it out defensively.”
Thibodeau has been a fiery coach throughout his career, but he’s never been ejected, according to James L. Edwards of the Athletic, who talks to several referees about what it’s like to deal with Thibodeau during a game.

Atlantic Notes: McCain, Maxey, Hart, Payne, Nets

November 23rd, 2024 at 8:18am CST by Luke Adams

Sixers rookie Jared McCain initially broke through with a string of impressive performances earlier this month when Tyrese Maxey was sidelined due to a hamstring strain. However, McCain has shown since Maxey returned that he can remain productive alongside Philadelphia’s starting point guard. In Friday’s victory over Brooklyn, McCain racked up 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting while Maxey made 11-of-17 shots from the floor for 26 points.

“I was ecstatic that we found somebody that can give me relief and a break, so I don’t have to have the ball in my hands so much,” Maxey said (Twitter video link via Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports). “… So we have another guy out there who can make plays, can shoot the ball, can play off the ball, on the ball. It just makes the game a lot easier.”

When a reporter wondered after Friday’s game whether Maxey (6’2″) and McCain (6’3″) believe they can thrive together as “smaller” guards in the Sixers’ backcourt, Maxey half-jokingly took exception to the premise that the duo is “small,” as Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer relays. Asked by that reporter how tall he is, Maxey shot back, “Taller than you,” while McCain added, “And I’m taller than him.”

“We both play hard,” McCain said in explaining why he and Maxey don’t believe their size will be an issue. “I think a lot of the game is just playing hard. At this point, they’re going to try to get the mismatch. They’re going to have an offensive scheme to try to go at us. But as long as we play hard, I think we will be able to hold our own. That’s something that a lot of people don’t do. And I think we give a lot of effort, give a lot of energy, and I think we can make up for that.”

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

Knicks forward Josh Hart won’t turn 30 until March, but the eighth-year veteran believes he’s already in the “back end” of his playing career, he told Steve Popper of Newsday. “I always told my wife, I’m hanging it up around 34 or 35, maybe with God’s grace get 36 in there. But I’ve got hopefully five years left in the league,” Hart said. While the 29-year-old is averaging a career-best 14.1 points per game this season, he suggested he’d be happy to see that number drop if it helps the team get closer to its ultimate goal: “One thing I’ve always wanted was a (championship). For me, that’s more important than the statistics. When you win a (championship), no one remembers how much you scored. No one remembers what your role is. They care about (if) you got a ring. And at the end of the day, I’ve got hopefully five years left, maybe six. I’m on the back end. That’s what I’m trying to accomplish.”
Veteran point guard Cameron Payne said on Friday that he didn’t really know what his role would be when he signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Knicks during the offseason, but he hopes he’s “starting to turn some heads” with his play so far, per Peter Botte of The New York Post. Payne is averaging 8.2 points in 17.1 minutes per game and has made 44.4% of his three-point attempts. “Honestly, I just wanted to come and help,” Payne said. “When I get out there, I want to be aggressive and just utilize my opportunities. Obviously, I have. I’m in there. I didn’t know, though, coming in. I just wanted to be the best player I could be every day.”
Although the Nets reacquired control of their 2025 and 2026 first-rounders with the expectation that those picks would be high ones, it’s fine that they’ve exceeded expectations in the early going, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post, who points out in a subscriber-only article that the club doesn’t want to create a losing culture and that the NBA’s flattened lottery odds don’t necessarily reward the very worst teams. I’d also note that despite picking up a few early wins, the Nets are still tied for the league’s sixth-worst record and will likely get worse as the season progresses and they sell off pieces, so a high draft pick remains very much in play.

Knicks Notes: Hart, Towns, Achiuwa, Brunson, Takeaways

November 14th, 2024 at 12:24pm CST by Rory Maher

Josh Hart took responsibility for the Knicks‘ tough loss to Chicago on Wednesday night, notes Ian Begley of SNY.tv (via Twitter).

“It should have been a big statement win for us,” Hart said (YouTube link). “It was the first win where we really got hit and really started to swing back…. I gotta be better. This one is on my shoulders.”

Hart fouled Bulls guard Coby White on a three-point attempt with 3.2 seconds remaining and the Knicks up by two (YouTube link). White went on to convert all three free throws, and then Jalen Brunson‘s potential game-winning turnaround jumper over Patrick Williams spun in and out.

Hart, 29, is in the first season of a four-year, $80.9MM extension that features a team option for 2027/28. He recorded six points, eight rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes on Wednesday.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

New York trailed by as many 22 points in the second half on Wednesday before retaking the lead. Big man Karl-Anthony Towns had an excellent offensive game, finishing with a season-high 46 points, going 18-of-30 from the floor and 6-of-12 from long distance. But he was unhappy about finishing 4-of-8 on free throws, including two consecutive misfires midway through the fourth quarter and the Knicks trailing by one, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. “If I make a few of those free throws, at least two or three of them, you put your team in a different position,” said Towns, who got in some extra practice at the charity stripe after the loss.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau provided a minor injury update on forward/center Precious Achiuwa prior to Wednesday’s game, Botte adds. Achiuwa, who has yet to make his season debut after suffering a left hamstring strain in preseason, still hasn’t been cleared to practice.
While Wednesday’s loss was obviously disappointing, it was still a positive that Brunson was able to suit up after sustaining a minor ankle injury in Tuesday’s win in Philadelphia, Botte notes in another story for The Post. Brunson, Miles McBride (knee) and Cameron Payne (hamstring) were all questionable heading into Wednesday’s contest, but all three wound up playing.
Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Sports+ link) shares his takeaways for the early portion of the Knicks’ season, with the club currently holding a 5-6 record.

New York Notes: Ryan, Hart, Nets, Simmons, Clowney

November 13th, 2024 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran sharpshooter Matt Ryan played non-garbage-time minutes on Tuesday for the first time since joining the Knicks, as head coach Tom Thibodeau expanded his rotation to nine players in a win over Philadelphia, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Ryan went 0-of-3 from the field and was a minus-six in nine minutes of action, but Thibodeau sounds prepared to give the 27-year-old more opportunities to prove he deserves regular playing time.

“I almost (played him) last game,” Thibodeau said. “But he just got here and because we had six of seven on the road, there hasn’t been a lot of practice time. It’s going to take him a little bit of time for him to get up to speed. But he’s smart and he’ll pick it up quickly. It’s good to have that.”

As Bondy notes, in addition to inserting Ryan into the rotation, Thibodeau got guard Cameron Payne back on Tuesday after he missed four straight games due to a hamstring strain. The duo joined Miles McBride and Jericho Sims as rotation reserves vs. Philadelphia.

While the starters still saw plenty of action, OG Anunoby was the only one to log more than 38 minutes after four starters surpassed that threshold in Sunday’s loss to Indiana.

Here’s more on the NBA’s two New York-based teams, the Knicks and Nets:

After struggling to find his fit in the Knicks‘ new-look lineup during the preseason, Josh Hart is off to a career-best start, notes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Hart’s 9.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game would be career highs, while his average of 13.8 points per game is well above his career rate. The do-it-all guard/forward also leads the NBA with a 76.8% shooting percentage on two-point attempts.
Ben Simmons appears to be getting comfortable after returning to his natural point guard position in the Nets‘ second unit, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Simmons had a season-high 12 assists in 22 minutes off the bench in Monday’s win over New Orleans, as head coach Jordi Fernandez has staggered Simmons’ and center Nic Claxton‘s minutes in order to avoid spacing issues. “I believe that if we have Ben in the Cleveland game we win the game. That’s obvious,” Fernandez said of Saturday’s five-point loss to the Cavaliers, which Simmons missed due to lower back injury management. “We have a ball-handler, a player that’s been there, a player that plays fast. We stopped running in the second half and Ben is the best at throwing the ball ahead and making us run. So it’s good to have him back, for sure. He’s going to help with those things.”
After playing well during the final few weeks of his rookie season, Nets big man Noah Clowney had gotten off to a slow start this fall, averaging 5.6 points per game on 31.9% shooting through his first eight outings. As Lewis details, Clowney enjoyed a breakout game on Monday when he scored a season-high 15 points and knocked down 5-of-10 three-pointers. “Noah, one thing he’s done consistently is just continue to let it fly and it’s how it works, like you do not control if it’s gonna go in,” Fernandez said. “You can control if you take a good shot. He kept taking a good shot after good shot after good shot. Like 5-for-10, it’s what we want to see. And I want him to keep shooting every time.”

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