ATLANTA — At least one ankle sprain is almost healed, while another is just beginning.
Miles McBride, who missed the last seven games due to a sprained left ankle, was upgraded to questionable for Saturday’s game against the Hawks, the Knicks announced.
Josh Hart, meanwhile, was ruled out of the game in Atlanta due to a sprained right ankle, an injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of a Christmas win over the Cavaliers.
If McBride returns, it will be his first appearance since landing at the foot of Orlando’s Desmond Bane on December 7. McBride was on a hot streak before the injury, splashing 27 of his previous 47 treys.
He would join a rotation that has blossomed with the addition of Tyler Kolek as a backup point guard but is also unknown without Hart, the regular starting small forward.
Coach Mike Brown could opt for the double-sized starting lineup with Mitchell Robinson at center and Karl-Anthony Towns at power forward. Instead, he could slot McBride into the lineup.
The last time Hart missed a game — Dec. 18 in Indianapolis — Brown surprisingly started rookie Mohamed Diawara at forward.
Hart was left with a serious limp after the Christmas injury, which occurred when he rode and stepped on Cleveland’s Dean Wade.
Hart then buried a pair of free throws — he was fouled on the play — and retreated to the locker room. Brown said he had no update on Hart’s status during his postgame news conference, and that the Knicks did not hold a practice Friday before flying to Atlanta.
Hart is averaging 12.3 points, eight rebounds and 5.1 assists in 28 games this season. The Knicks are 11-3 with him as the starter.
McBride is averaging 11.6 points on a career-best 44.4 percent shooting from behind the arc in 20 appearances this season.
The Hawks play the Knicks on the second night of a back-to-back following Friday night’s home game against the Heat.
Atlanta center Kristaps Porzingis has not played since Dec. 5 due to an illness. The former Knick was diagnosed last season with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a condition that disrupts heart rate and blood pressure regulation.
The Hawks and Knicks will face off for the first time this season.
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