Kristaps Porzingis came back in a big way.
After sitting out Tuesday’s loss in Washington with an illness, Porzingis returned Wednesday and led all scorers with 19 points in the Knicks’ 95-90 victory over the Nets at Barclays Center.
“I woke up this morning, and I wasn’t shaking anymore,” said Porzingis, who said he played with equal parts adrenaline and and anger at the Nets for some rough play. “My body felt much better, but still I haven’t really ate anything these last couple of days but it was still tough. I tried to prepare myself mentally to push as much as I can out there. I was able to push through it.
“I had a lot of adrenaline while I was playing for a lot of reasons. Sometimes being mad. I think that adrenaline helps in those moments. You don’t even think about if you’re tired. You just keep going. At that point we had to give our all. That was the only thing on my mind.”
Porzingis scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks hope to have Derrick Rose back Saturday. Rose missed a third game Wednesday with a sprained left ankle, but was out of his walking boot. Rose said he expects — hopes — to play Saturday at the Garden against Cleveland.
“I’m going to try to go next game,” said Rose who Tuesday took “set shots,” but won’t run until Thursday or Friday. “Every day, it’s improving. It’s a process. I’m not rushing it. I’m getting a lot of treatment and resting it every day. I’m out the boot today so there’s a lot of progression.
“And today [Wednesday], I was able to jump, go to the 3-point line and jump. And like I said today was the first day I took my boot off and it feels all right. Running, that comes probably tomorrow and Friday.”
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Lance Thomas, who last played on Jan. 12 when he suffered a fractured left orbital bone, is experiencing renewed headaches and will visit a new specialist.
“He saw the eye doctor this morning. Everything was fine but he’s still having the headaches. They’re trying to figure out why. He’ll see somebody else,” Hornacek said. “[He’ll see] another specialist to see why the headaches are still lingering around. I think it comes and goes but when he starts exercising the pounding comes back. We got to get that right.”
Brandon Jennings shot 1-of-11 filling in for Rose, but finished with 10 assists and played the entire fourth quarter.
“When you shoot 1-of-11, you say, ‘Time to be a playmaker,’ ” Jennings said.
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