An MRI taken Thursday on New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis' injured right ankle was negative, revealing no damage, league sources told ESPN. Porzingis is considered day-to-day, ESPN sources say, after spraining his ankle Wednesday against the Miami Heat. The Knicks next play on Sunday against the Orlando Magic.
Porzingis was hurt on Wednesday when he and Justise Winslow were pursuing a loose ball on the baseline and Winslow stepped on Porzingis' right foot. Porzingis' foot turned during the first-quarter sequence and he appeared to roll his ankle. He stayed on the floor for several minutes before walking to the locker room, while being supported by a teammate and a team staffer.
Porzingis said afterward that he felt his ankle "touching the floor," but he didn't feel significant pain immediately after the injury. X-rays taken Wednesday were negative. Originally, the Knicks said Porzingis was available to return to the game. But the third-year forward said that he and team doctors concluded at halftime that he shouldn't return, in part because New York led by double digits at the time.
Any missed time for Porzingis would be a significant loss for New York (11-10). The 22-year-old entered play on Wednesday ranked fourth in the NBA in points per game (27.0) and first in blocks per game (2.2). Porzingis, though, was optimistic on Wednesday night that he won't be out for long.
"They call me the lizard because I recover so quickly from things," he said with a smile. "So hopefully it's nothing too big and I'm going to get treatment, and hopefully the lizard will be ready for Sunday."
