Noah leaves Knicks for 'personal reasons,' will miss next two games

Knicks center Joakim Noah left the team on Thursday for "personal reasons" and is expected to miss the club's next two games.

Noah has been largely out of the Knicks' rotation this season, appearing in seven of the club's 48 games (he missed the first 12 games while serving the remainder of a 20-game suspension for using a banned substance).

Jeff Hornacek said of Noah's absence, "it's for these two games and we'll see" according to published reports. The Knicks play the Denver Nuggets on Thursday and finish their road trip on Friday against the Phoenix Suns.

Hornacek declined to comment on the reason or reasons behind Noah's absence.

"We're not going to comment on that stuff. Personal reasons; he won't be with us for a couple of games," the coach said, according to published reports. "He works hard to keep himself in shape. He's professional that way. It's always tough when you want to play.''

Noah, 33, who signed a four-year, $72 million contract in the summer of 2016, has been inactive for much of the season as Hornacek has turned to Enes Kanter and Kyle O'Quinn to fill out the club's rotation at center.

Noah, according to team sources, had been upset about his diminished role, but understanding of it.

Hornacek said on Thursday that Noah was not returning to New York to play for the club's G League affiliate. Noah played in one G League game earlier this season.

Rookie Damyean Dotson was recalled from the G League on Thursday and joined the Knicks in Denver. Both Kristaps Porzingis (knee irritation) and Kyle O'Quinn (contused left calf) are questionable for the Denver game.