Cam Reddish injured trying to defend Stephen Curry

PHOENIX — Cam Reddish was unsure of his immediate playing status after leaving during the third quarter of the Knicks’ loss to the Warriors on Friday night with a sore groin and was later listed as questionable to play on Sunday .

Reddish, whose streak of eight straight starts could end Sunday against the Suns if he can’t go, believes Stephen Curry’s defense contributed to his injury, which he first felt early in the season. game and which “gradually” worsened before his withdrawal in the third quarter. .

“It was fun. To be honest, he was going up against the greatest of all time,” Reddish said after the game. “It was fun. Hard too. He moves constantly. That’s probably why my groin hurts. But I like competition.

If Reddish is unable to face the Suns, then Quentin Grimes could be in line to return to the starting lineup. The second-year guard has played sparingly this season due to a foot injury he suffered early in training camp, and he has clocked just 43 minutes in six appearances.

Grimes saw no action Friday until the final two minutes of the game. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau opted for an eight-man rotation after Reddish’s departure. Displaced starter Evan Fournier also sat out for a third straight road trip game.

“Yeah, I liked the rotation we had,” Thibodeau said. “I was going to put [Grimes] when Cam wasn’t [able to go back in]but it was the band that was in there that whittled it down to eight [points]. So I wanted to see where it was going.

“But [Grimes] moves very well in practice. I hope he will be ready to go [Sunday]. I think it will be.

Reddish, who scored 11 points in 25 minutes, said he suffered a torn groin while at Duke in 2019. The injury required surgery, but he said it didn’t feel as serious.

“I couldn’t walk when I tore it, but I’m fine now,” Reddish said.

Obi Toppin uncharacteristically missed two dunks against the Warriors. He shot 0 for 5 from the field and scored a point in 19 minutes.

“Obi is an excellent finisher. There’s not a lot missing,” said Thibodeau. “It was one of those nights.”

Chris Paul (heel), Cam Johnson (knee) and Landry Shamet (concussion protocols) will miss the game for the Suns.