ATLANTA — With the Knicks guards on their way back from injury, Delon Wright’s opportunities will likely be slashed soon — if not totally cut — after Tom Thibodeau found a workable option in a pinch.
“[Wright has] shown everyone he’s more than capable,” the coach said. “We like the job that he’s done.”
With Jalen Brunson, Miles Bridges and Cam Payne all out with ailments, Wright started four consecutive games at point guard while logging more than 30 minutes in each.
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The Knicks went 3-1, and Wright, a defensive specialist, acknowledged he should be more aggressive offensively.
The 32-year-old, who got the starting nod over rookie Tyler Kolek, averaged 9.5 points on a respectable 48.4 percent shooting in the past four games.
“Sometimes I have to be more aggressive looking to score. I’m pretty sure that’s what the scouting report is — he’s going to try to pass,” Wright said. “So I could look at the basket more and make the right play from there, whether it’s score or pass. Getting to the paint and passing is something I like to do.
“It is who I am. I’m used to not trying to do too much. People want me to do more, actually, try to do more on the offensive end, try to score more. I stick to my ways and know myself. I’m not trying to do too much and getting the ball to the right people.”
Brunson is likely to return this weekend from his lengthy ankle-sprain recovery — either Saturday against the Hawks or Sunday against the Suns.
McBride (groin strain) and Payne (sprained ankle) are also slated to return “any day now,” according to Thibodeau.
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They will likely send Wright back to emergency-option status.
ankle-sprain recovery. Jason Szenes / New York Post
With Brunson missing the past 14 games, the Knicks found different ways to score points — namely from OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges — and Josh Hart knows reintegrating the point guard into the new Knicks reality will require some change.
“I think it’ll be a little bit of an adjustment period. For me, it’ll be easy because I played with him for 2 ¹/₂ years,” Hart said. “The blessing of having him out that long is OG’s been playing unbelievably. [Bridges] has been playing great. [Karl-Anthony Towns] has been playing great. So now there might be a little adjustment in terms of him reintegrating and getting his shots, and playmaking, but also getting those other guys involved.
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“It won’t be the same capacity obviously, but we want to get those guys involved when J.B. is out of the game, when J.B. is in the game. It might be a blessing. We’ve got a couple of games before playoffs to figure that out.”
