TITLE: Knicks Close Ranks as Deadline Nears; Towns Controls Glass, Jazz Await George Update, Magic Reject Rift Talk
SLUG: knicks-towns-jazz-george-magic-roundup
CONTENT:
NEW YORK — With the NBA trade deadline approaching and speculation about Giannis Antetokounmpo persisting, Knicks head coach Mike Brown said the club has adopted a “bunker mentality” to shut out external noise.
“We understand that we have no control over the noise out there, so we have to have a bunker mentality,” Brown told reporters, according to SNY. “Not just at the trade deadline but all the time.”
Knicks
New York has won five straight after routing Portland, thanks in large part to Karl-Anthony Towns. The center has collected at least 20 rebounds in back-to-back games, underscoring the all-around impact Brown said he expects from elite players.
“That’s what great players do — they impact the game in a lot of different ways,” the coach said.
Guard Jalen Brunson added, “That’s what he brings to the table. Big-time performance for him.”
Jazz
Utah guard Keyonte George sprained his left ankle late in Friday’s loss to Brooklyn, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. X-rays were negative, but George left the arena limping and was being evaluated by team medical staff.
The third-year guard is averaging more than 24 points while shooting efficiently across the board. He had 26 points on 9-for-11 shooting before exiting.
If George misses time, Isaiah Collier and rookie Walter Clayton could see larger roles. Forward Elijah Harkless (hamstring) remains out but told the Tribune he hopes to return in a couple of weeks after earning December’s G League Player of the Month award.
Magic
Orlando pushed back on a report from ESPN’s “Hoop Collective” suggesting tension between head coach Jamahl Mosley and second-year forward Paolo Banchero.
“That’s outside opinion,” Mosley said, per the Orlando Sentinel. “What me and Paolo have is a constant level of competitiveness that wants to find a way to get a win.”
Banchero was more pointed: “We have a lot of open communication. I wouldn’t say those reports are true.” He acknowledged frustration during losing stretches but said he, Mosley and the organization remain aligned. “I think winning cures all. The more we win, the more quiet those reports will get,” he added.
The Knicks’ fortified focus, George’s uncertain status in Utah, and Orlando’s public show of unity highlight several storylines as the league moves closer to the deadline.
Source: Hoops Wire
