SAN ANTONIO — Tyson Chandler got his championship ring in Dallas, but also picked up a left hamstring injury that could force him to miss the final two games of the Knicks’ four-game road trip.
Chandler missed Wednesday night’s 118-105 loss to the Spurs — the first game he’s missed as a Knick — and he is questionable for Milwaukee Friday night. Jared Jeffries (sore knee) also didn’t play against San Antonio and is out for Milwaukee, too.
Rookie Josh Harrellson, who made his return in Dallas, started in Chandler’s place. Harrellson, who couldn’t even break the rotation when he became healthy from a broken wrist one week ago, scored eight points with eight rebounds Wednesday night. He was a plus-17 vs. Dallas and was on the floor during the 15-0 fourth-quarter run.
“I’d rather be out there, but I’d rather not be out three, four weeks and play it smart and listen to what [the doctors] have to say,” Chandler said. “I’m hoping it feels better but I’m listening to the doctors at this point.’’
How badly were Chandler and Jeffries missed last night?
“They anchor our defense,’’ D’Antoni said. “That’s why we improved from last year to this year.’’
Chandler said he believes he hurt the hamstring during practice Monday. He also is battling a wrist injury and wasn’t active as usual in the Dallas loss.
“I felt it at the beginning of the game,’’ Chandler said. “It tightened up as the game went on. It’s frustrating because I know how the team needs me playing against a tall team [the Spurs]. It’s a tall task.”
Chandler wore his championship ring in the locker room in San Antonio, showing it off. He said he was overcome with emotion that everywhere he went walking in Dallas this week, fans came up to him to express their gratitude.
D’Antoni said before the Dallas game he considered Chandler as good as any center in the NBA.
“It’s very humbling, very overwhelming,’’ Chandler said of the compliment.
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D’Antoni finally rewarded rookie Iman Shumpert (two points in 29 minutes) for his sensational play off the bench and put him in the starting lineup at shooting guard in place of Landry Fields last night (eight points). The Jeremy Lin-Fields pregame ritual handshake is over. On Monday, D’Antoni said Fields would start “for now’’, indicating a change could be in the offing. Fields had his third straight poor offensive showing in Dallas, scoring just four points. but had 10 rebounds.
“We’ve had horrible starts and horrible starts to the second half,’’ D’Antoni said. “It’s not a demotion. It’s trying to find combinations that play well together. The second group is faster, maybe for Landry to drive and run and use his athleticism it might be better for him. Shumpert’s a little stronger. It might not be a permanent thing, but we’ll see.’’
Fields didn’t sound delighted. He was on top of the world during the Knicks’ 7-0 run, forming a vibrant tandem with Lin.
“Whatever, you come off the bench and can still try to do what I do,” Fields said. “Bring energy.’’
Fields said his intangibles are his thing.
“I don’t mind not showing up a lot in the stats,’’ he said. “I do whatever I can to make the team win. Sometimes it’s not glorified, but I’m content with it.’’