PHILADELPHIA _ As the Knicks have bumbled through a 9-23 start to the season, one of the things they could rely on was the scoring of Tim Hardaway Jr. But even though Hardaway was back in the lineup Wednesday after sitting out one game, Knicks coach David Fizdale revealed the team's leading scorer was fighting plantar fasciitis.
He sat out Monday against Phoenix, just the second game he has missed season. But Fizdale said it is a nagging problem that will only allow Hardaway to play when he can manage the pain.
"Plantar fasciitis is nagging," Fizdale said. "Some days it aches so bad you can't move on it. Other days you can tolerate. He's trying to manage it.
"He's going to tell us. We're going to treat it. The more he can tolerate, that's how much that we'll go with it. When he can't take it anymore, that's when we'll give him rest. It's one of those injuries that is a real tender injury because you do everything with your heel. He's been battling for us. That's why I love him."
Hardaway has averaged 21 points per game this season, but his numbers have dipped of late. Over his last 12 games he is averaging 16.3 points per game and shooting just 34.4 percent from the floor.
"I know he's been fighting through it a lot," Fizdale said. "I know he doesn't want that as an excuse. I don't want to put it out as it is an excuse. He's been fighting through it for a while now. I don't know if it's had any impact on his shooting or not."
Fizdale has spoken of Hardaway needing to find ways to adjust to defenses that are focusing on him as the team's primary scorer. Hardaway noted that in his last game against Indiana on Sunday, the Pacers were doubling him to get the ball out of his hands.
"I think the league is just saying you really have to figure this out," Fizdale said. "As a starting two you're going to have to figure out how to get easy baskets, how to get some high-percentage shots, how to trust teammates and be off the ball and get it off of the backside. Those are things he's got to learn. This is the first time that he's really been thrust into that spot and called upon to lead, to be the leading scorer, to defend. So that's just part of his growth and development."
While Hardaway is back Wednesday, along with Damyean Dotson (sore right shoulder), the Knicks will be without Mitchell Robinson, who remains back in New York to continue to rehabilitate his sprained left ankle, and Allonzo Trier, still working his way back from a hamstring strain.
