Luguentz Dort collision spotlights Miles McBride’s uneasy return as Knicks limit minutes
luguentz dort was at the center of a jarring moment that briefly raised alarms around Miles McBride’s return from surgery, after the Knicks guard limped off following a loose-ball play. The incident unfolded Sunday during New York’s game against Oklahoma City, as McBride continued his first action after a long absence tied to sports hernia surgery. By Tuesday night in Houston, McBride was back on the floor in the Knicks’ 111-94 loss to the Rockets, insisting the scare was discomfort from scar tissue breaking down—not a fresh injury.
McBride says the issue was scar tissue, not a new injury
McBride described the sensation as pain connected to recovery, explaining that scar tissue can tighten the area and then become more elastic as healing progresses. He said he started feeling pain on the play before the fall, while defending a Thunder player, and later ended up heading to the locker room after chasing a loose ball and falling on Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort. McBride added that he did not need another MRI exam before returning to action in Houston.
“Scar tissue is built up because it tightens everything. And now it’s getting more elastic, stretching out, ” McBride said. “I came down [defending a Thunder player], tried to switch gears, and the scar tissue is ripping and getting better. ”
Limited minutes, rough shooting: the Knicks manage the return
Tuesday’s return to the court came with a clear reminder that conditioning and rhythm do not snap back instantly. McBride played 13 minutes against Houston and got through the stint without another setback, but his shooting touch was visibly off as he finished 1-for-9 from the field. In his first game back Sunday, he went 0-for-3.
McBride framed the challenge as part of a longer re-entry process after surgery during the season, calling it a “learning process” and acknowledging that pain can linger even as recovery moves forward.
“It’s tough having surgery in the middle of the season, especially on an area that’s so important to everything you do, ” McBride said. “So it’s just going to be a learning process. I’m going to figure it out, though. ”
He also emphasized the layoff itself as a major hurdle, noting he had not played in two months and only recently ramped intensity back up in practice.
Rotation pressure builds as McBride re-enters the mix
McBride’s return also re-opens rotation questions for New York. With teams typically tightening to eight or nine players in the postseason, the minutes available to supporting guards and wings become harder to find. In that mix, the Knicks have leaned on Jose Alvarado, Mo Diawara, and Jordan Clarkson during McBride’s absence, while Landry Shamet has been referenced as providing shooting and defense when available.
As McBride works through the physical and shooting rust, the Knicks are balancing the need for his contributions with a cautious on-ramp—especially after the moment involving luguentz dort served as a reminder of how quickly concern can spike when a player is fresh off a surgical recovery.
What’s next
For now, the clearest markers to watch are McBride’s comfort level, his ability to play through the normal pain he described, and whether his shooting rhythm stabilizes as the minutes build. The Knicks will continue managing his workload as he tries to convert a tentative return into consistent availability, with the memory of the luguentz dort collision still lingering as the most visible flashpoint of a comeback that remains in progress.
