Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Immanuel Quickley, Celtics, Sixers

Knicks

The Knicks are facing a bit of a conundrum when it comes to guard Immanuel Quickley and his contract situation, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post.

Quickley is due for a contract extension this summer.

“He’s a hard one. You want more of a body of work playing big minutes,” ESPN’s Bobby Marks told Braziller. “[Sunday] night was beyond big minutes. But at the end of the day, where does he fall into the pecking order of (Jalen Brunson), you still have (Julius Randle), (RJ Barrett’s) contract hasn’t started yet, eventually (Quentin Grimes). You want to prioritize cap space certainly in 2024. I think he’s a priority for New York, but I don’t think he’s a July 1 priority.” 

The Knicks had been looking to move Quickley ahead of the trade deadline in exchange for draft capital, Brazzlier noted.

“I think the next month and half and the playoffs will determine if the value of an extension outweighs prioritizing cap space,” Marks said.

Celtics

Each of the Celtics’ last two defeats has come in overtime, and both of those games were on back-to-back nights. The first was a double-OT loss to the Knicks, followed by a single-OT road loss to the Cavs, a game in which the Celtics blew a double-digit lead. (Related Cavs dribbles.)

But guard/forward Jaylen Brown said Boston can’t make excuses.

“There were some key vital plays that we missed, but we can’t blame fatigue,” Brown said, via Brian Dulik of The Associated Press. “I wish one of the games had turned into a win. If I’ve got to play 47 minutes the next game, I’m down with it.”

• Coach Joe Mazzulla said he didn’t expect star wing Jayson Tatum (knee) to be sidelined for long, via the AP.

76ers

Star center Joel Embiid has scored 40 or more points 11 times this season. That included a 42-point outburst in the 76ers’ road win over the Pacers on Monday. But coach Doc Rivers said it was the defense that came up big.

“It was an offensive game,” Rivers told reporters. “But at the same time someone had to make a defensive stand and we did that enough to win the game.”

• The Sixers have won two straight minus starting forwards Tobias Harris (calf) and P.J. Tucker (back).