Miles McBride sinks five triples, scores 19 points

After missing the Knicks’ last four games, Alvarado will suit up against Brooklyn. He’ll occupy some of the backup point guard minutes, which will take away time from both Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride.

Alvarado will miss a fourth straight game with this ankle injury. Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride will continue to fill out the backup point guard minutes, with Kolek having been more effective as of late. Unless you’re desperate for dimes from Kolek, it’s best to look elsewhere for production.

This will be a third straight absence for Alvarado. Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek should continue to split the backup point guard minutes, which hasn’t been enough time for either to make a significant impact in the box score.

Alvarado will miss a second straight game, which means the backup point guard minutes will go to Miles McBride and Tyler Kolek. McBride played 13 minutes in Sunday’s loss and wasn’t able to provide much value, while Kolek dished out nine assists in 15 minutes. Kolek should be the better streaming option, though only for managers in deep leagues who are desperate for some dimes.

McBride rebounded nicely from his poor showing in Tuesday’s loss to the 76ers, a game in which he scored three points on 1-of-5 shooting. Against the Celtics, Deuce shot 6-of-8 from three and scored 20 of the Knicks’ 32 bench points. The reserve role doesn’t help McBride deliver consistent fantasy value, but he can be an effective source of points and three-pointers in deep leagues.

Anunoby missed Games 3 and 4 of the Knicks’ series against the 76ers, but he is expected to return to take on Cleveland. This doesn’t come as a surprise after he was a full participant in practice last week. Miles McBride replaced him in the starting lineup but will head back to the bench with Anunoby likely to return.

After sweeping Philadelphia in the conference semifinals, the earliest that the Knicks will play again is on Sunday, May 17. Anunoby has been out since suffering a minor strain of his right hamstring during the latter stages of Game 2 of the conference semifinals and has not played since. He has been limited to individual work in recent practices, but there’s reportedly optimism that the forward will be ready for Game 1. If Detroit can force a Game 7, the conference finals would not begin until May 19, which would mean 13 days to recover for Anunoby. Miles McBride has been the replacement in the starting lineup, and he made seven three-pointers in the series-clinching Game 4 rout of the 76ers.

After offering limited production as OG Anunoby’s replacement in the starting lineup for Game 3, McBride was outstanding in Sunday’s series clincher. Deuce shot 7-of-9 from beyond the arc, sinking one fewer three pointer than the 76ers did as a team. McBride led the Knicks in scoring, while Landry Shamet contributed 12 points and four three-pointers in 11 minutes off the bench. What their roles will be in the conference finals depends on Anunoby’s hamstring, which he strained late in Game 2.

Anunoby is set to miss his second consecutive game in this series after injuring his hamstring in the fourth quarter of Game 2. The Knicks won Game 3 without him and with a 3-0 lead in the series can be cautious with the 28-year-old small forward’s injury. Miles McBride could start again in Game 4 with Landry Shamet seeing additional minutes off the bench in Anunoby’s absence.

Injured during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 2 victory, Anunoby did not play in Friday’s win that gave New York a 3-0 series lead. Miles McBride moved into the starting lineup, and Anunoby’s absence also meant more opportunities for Landry Shamet, who scored 15 points off the bench. Look for those two to continue in those roles for Game 4 if Anunoby remains out.