Miles McBride is against the clock to get back to his best before the postseason starts.
He’s played three games now after missing the previous 28 following surgery to repair a sports hernia. It’s imperative across these last four regular-season games that he gets back as close to how he was playing before the surgery.
McBride was enjoying a career-year before being sidelined, averaging 12.9 points per game and shooting a stellar 42.0 percent from 3-point range.
He was the Knicks’ most — or joint-most, along with Mitchell Robinson — important contributor off the bench, and also represented one of the Knicks’ best point-of-attack defenders. He had the team’s best net rating at 10.3 points.
His first two games back, though (losses against the Thunder and Rockets), he struggled with his shot — going a combined 1-for-12 from the field and 1-for-8 from deep.
Then he rested during a win over the Grizzlies, and in Friday’s rout of the Bulls, he took all 3-pointers and went 2-for-4, representing a step in the right direction.
Having been out so long, what’s the toughest part of getting back up to speed?
“Everything, honestly,” McBride said. “It’s a tough thing to be out so long, having a surgery in the middle of the season.”
There was also a brief concern of a setback — during that Thunder game, McBride played just 11 minutes before aggravating the injury while diving for a loose ball. He grabbed at his groin area, limped into the locker room and did not return.
But the worst fears were avoided when he was able to return one game later against the Rockets.
“It’s really just a part of the recovery process,” McBride said. “It’s just kind of like a tweak, and it’s a painful tweak. It’s not necessarily as bad, it’s just sometimes you can’t really do anything about it.
“It’s like someone stabbing your groin, hip and ab at the same time. It’s not fun. But I’ll get back right.”
During Wednesday’s win over the Grizzlies, OG Anunoby briefly was in some discomfort with his wrist. On the bench, Jordan Clarkson pretended to sprinkle healing dust on Anunoby’s wrist.
Anunoby returned and finished with 25 points.
“Jordan healed my wrist,” Anunoby said. “It was crazy. I’m very thankful.”