Knicks not planning to send Quentin Grimes to G-League

DENVER — The Knicks appear to be against sending Quentin Grimes to the G-League to get in some reps.

Although the young guard didn’t play for the first time when healthy during Tuesday night’s win over the Jazz, as coach Tom Thibodeau trimmed his rotation to nine players, and hasn’t played much this season due to a nagging left foot injury, it doesn’t seem like Grimes will be going anywhere to get some games under his belt.

“I think him being here with us is the best thing right now,” Thibodeau said of Grimes who did not pay in the Knicks’ 106-103 win over Nuggets on Wednesday night.

The foot kept Grimes out for almost all of training camp, and he appeared in only the last preseason game. Then, discomfort in his left foot returned and he missed the first six regular-season games. After returning for the next two, he was again shut down after the soreness came back. He has now been back for more than a week. Altogether, he has appeared in five games this year and played a total of 41 minutes.

“For the most part, just getting that game reps as much as I can,” Grimes said. “Trying to get back there. It’s really just hard to simulate game speed. That’s the biggest thing.

“It’s tough, just coming in off the summer [I had], everything that was going on. I had high expectations for myself as well.”

Grimes is getting in extra work when he can. He was fine with Thibodeau’s decision Tuesday to cut him out of the rotation. He’s focused on doing his part to stay ready when his time comes.

“Just trying to be supportive,” Grimes said. “I know that he’s trying to do what he feels is the best for the team so we can go out there and win games.”

Despite Thibodeau praising Obi Toppin’s play of late, it doesn’t sound like the forward is going to get a minutes bump. Right now, he is logging 17.8 minutes per game and shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point range.

Asked if he needs to find more minutes for Toppin, Thibodeau said: “Whatever the game calls for.” Toppin played a key role in Tuesday’s win over the Jazz, notching nine points, six rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes.

Mitchell Robinson (sprained right knee) remained out. He has missed the last seven games. … The Nuggets were without former MVP Nikola Jokic (COVID-19 protocols) and forward Aaron Gordon (non-COVID-19 illness).