Frank Ntilikina, the Knicks’ 2017 lottery pick, was held out again and the Westchester County product the franchise bypassed that year, Donovan Mitchell, lit up the Garden in his homecoming for 30 points in 29 minutes in a 137-116 rout by the Jazz on Wednesday night.
As the Knicks began their six-game homestand disastrously, Ntilikina missed a 24th straight game with his groin injury and said he needed one more 5-on-5 practice with the team before he returns — which is expected for Friday’s home contest against the Nuggets.