Knicks sixth man Immanuel Quickley ‘doubtful’ for Game 4

MIAMI— The Knicks bench and depth, considered their advantages in the Eastern Conference semis, have instead been lagging and were thrown another challenge with Immanuel Quickley’ s injury. But if Quickley is unavailable Monday, Tom Thibodeau’ s prior adjustments suggest he’ ll either shorten the rotation to eight players or give minutes to defensive...

MIAMI — The Knicks bench and depth, considered their advantages in the Eastern Conference semis, have instead been lagging and were thrown another challenge with Immanuel Quickley’s injury.

Quickley, who only missed one game this season, is listed as “doubtful” for Monday night’s Game 4 after spraining his ankle in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Game 3.

The Knicks, it should be noted, used the same “doubtful” status for Josh Hart in the previous series because of a sprained ankle and he played the next game.

But if Quickley is unavailable Monday, Tom Thibodeau’s prior adjustments suggest he’ll either shorten the rotation to eight players or give minutes to defensive specialist Miles McBride.

With the Knicks’ offense in a funk, Thibodeau was asked Sunday if he’ll consider adding Evan Fournier and Derrick Rose to the rotation.

“Everything is on the table,” he responded.

That’s the coach’s stock answer and not an indication he’d actually consider such a change. It would be surprising if either Rose or Fournier play Monday after being out of the rotation since early December. Fournier, who played at the end of the regular season after the playoffs were clinched, is the more likely option as a 3-point specialist (the Knicks are shooting just 27.3% on treys for the series).

Regardless, the coach certainly has to figure things out with his reserves. They’ve been outscored by the Heat’s bench, 84-52, with Quickley, Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin all struggling.

Miami’s Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin have been the best reserves of the series. Cody Zeller joined their success in Game 3.

Grimes, who could assume a larger role if Quickley is out or limited, has been especially unproductive while averaging just five points in the series.

He was also removed from the starting lineup for Hart, who Thibodeau wants to guard Jimmy Butler. The coach also noted that Grimes suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of the final two games of the Cleveland series.

“When you get to the playoffs, you’re looking at matchups,” Thibodeau said. “When a guy comes back from an injury, is he completely healthy coming back? So you look at all aspects of it. In some ways [the bench] could be better. It could impact another area. The bottom line is we all have to play a lot better.”

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