Cavaliers: Ricky Rubio still trying to find way back after injury

INDEPENDENCE — It's been a constant struggle for Cavaliers point guard Ricky Rubio, who is battling back from a torn ACL. He's appeared in five games for Cleveland (29-19) and has averaged 4.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and is shooting .308 from the field, .250 from the 3-point line and .667 from the foul line. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder said things have been "weird." "It's been a long time since I've been out there," Rubio said. "We haven't practiced much other than 5-on-5. I'm catching up on the fly. It's part of the process. I knew it wouldn't come right away. I'm still working myself up to playing with (teammates) and getting adjusted. It's been good." Rubio, 32, will be back in New York, where he erupted for a career-high 37 points against the Knicks on Nov. 7, 2021, tonight at 7:30. That 2021 game probably seems like an eternity ago for Rubio. About a month later, he suffered a torn ACL in New Orleans and had surgery. The 11-year veteran missed 13 months with the injury. His highest-scoring game since his return came in his season debut in Portland on Jan. 12, when he had nine points. "I feel good," Rubio said. "I'm working hard. This is the best I've felt (physically) in my career. Now, (I need) to translate that into the games. The speed, everything is different. It feels a bit weird, but I'm getting there." Rubio also tore his left ACL in 2012. He said he's now in a different stage of his career. "I worked way harder than I did back in the day," he said. "It's like day and night. I feel good where I'm at and about the end process." He's still on a minutes restriction (around 15) and doesn't play in both games of a back-to-back. "It will take some time to figure out all of that," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "So far, so good. Our plan is always what's best for Ricky. That's a conversation we continue to have. "Everything is about how he responds." The Spain native said it's "super hard" to play in short bursts and not one long stretch of 10-12 minutes at a time. "When you have a long spurt, you get a feeling for the game," Rubio said. "It's what the doctor recommends. With a longer stretch, I feel more comfortable and more productive." He said he's still building chemistry with the players, some of whom he had never played with. "It takes time to know who I'm playing with," Rubio said. "I'm out there after a year (off). I feel good physically. I want to get to the point where I don't think about anything about my body and just think about the game. I feel better every day." TIP-INS The Cavs have dropped to fifth in the Eastern Conference, while New York (25-23) is seventh. The Knicks have lost four in a row. Cleveland is 12-3 in its last 15 games at Madison Square Garden and has won four of its last five vs. New York. The teams are 1-1 this year. Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell practiced Monday and is expected to play in New York. Mitchell missed the previous three games with a groin injury. Contact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobCavsinsider.