Daily Report – 2/11/26
Yankees
Yankees’ pitchers and catchers reported to Tampa today, and manager Aaron Boone met the media. His players are embracing the mentality of “running it back.”
Image Courtesy: New York Yankees
Overall, the news out of camp has been positive. So far, there aren’t any unexpected injuries. Giancarlo Stanton is healthy, and he should be free of restrictions this Spring, including on his elbows. Anthony Volpe’s recovery is on schedule after he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum, and Boone believes his range of motion has improved.
Next, Carlos Rodón, who is recovering from bone spur surgery, is “probably not far behind from the start of the season,” and Gerrit Cole, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, has “thrown a number of [bull]pens already, and he’s scheduled to begin lives in a couple weeks.” Cole is expected to appear in some games toward the end of Spring Training.
The Yankees’ roster hasn’t changed much since last season. In fact, the roster has fewer holes than it did at the start of Spring Training last year, when the Yankees were without a starting third baseman. Last year, Stanton reported to Spring Training with tendinitis in both elbows, and the Yankees lost Cole and Luis Gil later in Spring.
Given the injuries to the Yankees’ starting rotation, their Opening Day rotation is expected to include Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and Luis Gil. The Yankees signed Weathers in the offseason, and they reunited with Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Paul Blackburn, Amed Rosario, and Ryan Yarbrough through free agency.
Knicks
2025 was the Year of the Pacer, so 2026 was supposed to be the Year of the Knick. Logic would tell you that if the reigning Eastern Conference champions were to fall out of contention, the runners-up would take their place. So far, it feels like 2026 is the year of the Piston, and the Knicks are drowning in the wake of Detroit.
For most of this season, especially the past month-and-a-half, the Knicks have beaten most of the teams they’ve had to beat. That list includes bottom-feeding Eastern Conference street-sweepers, like Brooklyn and Washington. But the Pacers are like a marten. They aren’t as friendly as their 14-40 record suggests.
Last night at the Garden, fans watched a masquerade ball unfold as the Pacers of Old returned to the Mecca, beating the Knickerbockers in overtime, 137-134. Jalen and the KAT were no match for Pesky Pascal and Numbing Nembhard, who combined for 54 points as Indiana torched the Knicks from downtown, draining 18 three-pointers.
Meanwhile, for the Knicks, being without Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby was no excuse for their despicable defensive performance from distance. Indiana has eliminated the Knicks in each of the previous two postseasons. The Knicks should have predicted they would return to MSG with a vengeance. This game was their NBA Finals.
“We didn’t reach the standard of defense that we’ve shown in recent games, and it came back to bite us today,” said Karl-Anthony Towns, who netted 22 points and 14 rebounds, but fouled out before the Knicks could get on the board in overtime. Towns hit two free throws to send the game to an extra frame, but he disappeared immediately after.
Towns’s sixth personal foul came on the offensive end, as he stuck his foot out and tripped Quenton Jackson while setting a screen. Upon fouling out, Towns rudely waved his hand in disgust. Kareless Kat has taken the second most fouls in the NBA this season, and he is the only active player who has fouled out of over 40 games in his career (StatMuse).
Indiana scored the first nine points in overtime. Thanks to clutch triples from Landry Shamet and Jalen Brunson, coupled with a pair of missed free throws by Pascal Siakam, the Knicks cut the deficit to a single point with 5.6 seconds remaining. Trailing by three points in the final second, Shamet missed two free throws, ending the game.
This game featured 39 lead changes, 16 ties, and neither team ever led by more than nine points. Despite holding Indiana to six points off 12 turnovers and securing a 20-9 fastbreak points advantage, the Knicks couldn’t answer their opponent’s three-point shooting prowess.
Defending the perimeter has been an issue for the Knicks all season. The Pistons, who have hit the third-fewest triples per game in the NBA this season, nailed a perplexing 17 against the Knicks on Friday. Indiana also ranks among the league’s bottom-10 three-point shooters. This is not a coincidence; it’s a never-ending trend. And it could cost the Knicks a title in June.
Anunoby’s absence has contributed mightily to the Knicks’ defensive issues. He wasn’t available on Friday, either, since he’s dealing with a toenail avulsion. He and Mikal Bridges formed the notorious “Wingstop” tandem last season that helped the Knicks overcome a Boston team that led the league in attempted three-point shots. Bridges has had a difficult defensive season, and amid his struggles, Mitchell Robinson has excelled. Neither Robinson nor Anunoby was available yesterday.
However, these absences are merely an explanation – not an excuse – for the Knicks’ putrid defensive performance from downtown yesterday. They were competing against an Indiana team that has been shorthanded all season. Tyrese Haliburton has missed the entire year while recovering from a torn Achilles. Former Knick, Obi Toppin, was also out, as well as Indiana’s recent acquisition, Ivica Zubac.
“Regardless of what their record is, they’re great,” Brunson realized after the game. He saw a 40-point performance go to waste. “Great coach, they do everything well. They play hard. They play to the last second.”
Brunson missed a couple of key shots down the stretch in regulation, but he made things interesting in overtime with a triple from atop the key. “We got the ball where we needed to get the ball,” said head coach Mike Brown. “We got the looks that we wanted to look for during that time.”
Tonight, the Knicks will play their final game before the All-Star Break, traveling to Philadelphia (7:30 PM, 6:30 PM CT – ESPN, MSG, ESPN App, Gotham Sports). The 76ers tend to give the Knicks a hard time, so it will be all-hands-on-deck if New York wants to enter the All-Star Break with a victory.
Schedule
6:00 PM (5:00 PM CST): Yankees Hot Stove; YES, Gotham Sports
7:30 PM (6:30 PM CST): NYK at PHI; ESPN, MSG, ESPN App, Gotham Sports
7:30 PM (6:30 PM CST): The Olympic Zone; WNBC
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CST): The Games of the XXV Winter Olympiad (Milano Cortina) – Primetime in Milan – Snowboarding, Figure Skating, Speed Skating; NBC, Peacock
11:35 PM (10:35 PM CST): The Games of the XXV Winter Olympiad (Milano Cortina) – Olympic Late Night – Freestyle Skiing, Snowboarding; NBC, Peacock
