The New York Knicks are heading into a crucial game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and injury news is looking up. After a tough loss in Charlotte, the team needs a spark. This spark could come with the return of a familiar face. According to Jared Schwartz of the New York Post, Landry Shamet did not practice for the Knicks that day.

McBride has been sidelined since January 28 after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia. It has been a long road back for the guard, but things are trending in the right direction.

SNY’s Ian Begley added that McBride could return to the court during the current road trip, possibly as early as Sunday. McBride was ruled out of the CHA game on Friday, a day before tipoff.

Sunday’s game vs OKC has not yet been ruled out for him, per SNY sources. McBride is rehabbing from surgery to repair a sports hernia and has been out since Jan. 28.

This is genuinely great news for the Knicks. McBride brings defensive intensity and a reliable backup option that New York has clearly missed in his absence. That loss in Charlotte really hurts, but it also makes us rethink things a bit. The Knicks just can’t afford to play a careless game, have a defense that is not on the mark, or see their shooting go down against the Thunder, one of the best teams in the league.

Besides, the New York players realized in Charlotte that their energy and enthusiasm have to be at a maximum throughout the game, from the starting whistle to the final buzzer. Expecting to compete against top teams while they are sleeping through the first half is a big mistake. If McBride plays in the next game, that will instantly raise the level of the Knicks’ bench and give Mike Brown even more defensive choices. Coming back would not only be a lift in spirits but also quite timely.