Austin Rivers, who has described his future with the Knicks as uncertain, was not seen on the bench for any part of his 110-107 victory over the Pacers on Saturday night in the garden.
Rivers retired from rotation when the Knicks acquired Derrick Rose in a trade earlier this month. Then, at another bad time, Rivers was ignored by Frank Ntilikina in Thursday’s win over the Kings after Elfrid Payton fell with a hamstring injury.
A Knicks official said Rivers was in the garden, but in the back he was receiving treatment for an ankle injury. Rivers was not on the injury report before the game in the NBA. In the box score, Rivers was included with the decision of a DNP coach.
Earlier this week, Rivers said of his situation: “I can’t control whether I’m traded today, tomorrow or the next day. What I can control is how I am as a player.”
Rivers has made two appearances in junk time for a total of five minutes over the last nine games. Against Sacramento, he was the only Knick not to enter the game.
Interestingly, after Taj Gibson sprained his ankle during Saturday’s game, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said President Leon Rose “will examine the available players.”
Rivers was signed in November with a three-year deal, but only the first is guaranteed. He has played in 21 matches.