Kristaps Porzingis listed as questionable to play vs. Carmelo Anthony, Thunder at MSG

ByIAN BEGLEY
December 15, 2017, 3:25 PM

— -- NEW YORK -- New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis is questionable for Saturday's home game against Carmelo Anthony and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Porzingis, who suffered a knee injury during Thursday's victory over the Brooklyn Nets, is officially listed as day-to-day by the Knicks.

Porzingis said Thursday that he didn't believe his knee injury was serious -- and he appears to be correct based on the information the Knicks released Friday.

It is unclear whether Porzingis underwent an MRI or had X-rays to further determine the extent of the injury. He said Thursday that he would be examined by the team's medical staff Friday.

Porzingis, 22, initially twisted his left knee in the first half when he received the ball in the post.

"I felt my knee buckle a little bit, and I felt a little pain there. So it's more about being cautious," Porzingis said. "I had a little shock pain there, and that's it."

The third-year forward played through some discomfort later in the half but said he felt instability in the knee in the third quarter, so he removed himself from the game.

If Porzingis is out for Saturday's game against Oklahoma City -- which is Anthony's first game at Madison Square Garden since he was traded by the Knicks in September -- it would leave a significant void for New York.

Porzingis is the NBA's eighth-leading scorer, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks, and is a key reason why the Knicks enter Saturday with a 15-13 record.

The Knicks already are without starting shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who is out indefinitely because of a stress injury in his lower left leg.

Lance Thomas had been starting at small forward in place of Hardaway. If Porzingis is out for Saturday's game, Michael Beasley is a candidate to start in his place at power forward.