PHILADELPHIA — OG Anunoby’s injury return timeline took a concerning left turn ahead of tipoff on Friday.
The Knicks listed Anunoby, who sustained a right hamstring strain in the waning minutes of their Game 2 victory over the 76ers on Wednesday, as questionable for Game 3 before head coach Mike Brown ruled him out ahead of tipoff on Friday.
Brown said Anunoby is day-to-day. When asked, however, whether or not Anunoby can run, Brown deferred to Knicks PR, which responded: “Next question.”
Anunoby limped off the Madison Square Garden floors with a few minutes left in the Knicks’ 108-102 Game 2 victory over the Sixers on Wednesday. The Knicks subsequently ruled him questionable to play in Game 3 with a hamstring strain before Brown ruled him out 90 minutes ahead of tipoff on Friday.
Brown started backup guard Miles McBride in place of the injured Anunoby for Game 3.
“Obviously [Miles] being able to pick up [full-court], it helps because obviously gives whoever he’s guarding a different look than, if they’re [being guarded by] myself,” said Josh Hart. “I’m 31, with some miles. I’m not picking up full [court]. So that gives a different look. Turning someone a couple of times at that point, trying to chew a little bit of the shot clock. So it all helps.”
Anunoby averaged 21.5 points on 61% shooting from the field and 51% shooting from 3-point range in the Knicks’ first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. He scored 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field in Game 1 against the Sixers and had 24 points, five rebounds, four blocks and a steal prior to his injury in Game 2.
Ahead of tipoff, Brown said nothing changes with Anunoby out of the rotation.
“No matter who’s in or out — Mitch [Robinson] was out for us last game — we just have to go out, try to do our job, whatever our job is,” Brown said. “Nobody has to do anything extraordinary. And so defensively and offensively, it’s the same with OG being out. You know, it’s going to be a collective effort for everybody to step up. And, you know, you always talk about next man up, and that’s what it is during this time of year or the regular season.”
That, however, could merely be lip service talking around the inevitable reality that is Anunoby’s importance to the Knicks’ success on both ends of the floor. The Knicks are 110-54 in games Anunoby has played since the Dec. 30, 2023 trade that sent R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors and boast just a 27-24 record in regular-season games he’s missed. In the playoffs, the Knicks are 22-13 with Anunoby on the floor and 1-3 without him.
“Obviously things change a little bit,” said Hart. “He’s a great defensive player. So it just means guys that are playing are going to have to step up, cover for each other.”
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse was Anunoby’s former head coach during their shared time with the Toronto Raptors. After raving about Anunoby ahead of Game 2, he repeated a similar sentiment at the Xfinity Mobile Arena before Game 3.
“First of all, OG’s been unbelievable. He’s been amazing both in the Atlanta series and in this series. He has been as good as I’ve ever seen him. He just keeps getting better and better, it’s a testament to him to continue to just keep playing,” said Nurse. “He guards every position. His shooting’s been great, now he’s even, his cutting game is great.
“I guess I’ve gotta see what happens, which way they go [with Anunoby out]. They could go both ends of the spectrum. They could go big, really big. Or they could even go really small. So I just gotta see what happens and how it impacts it if he doesn’t play. But let’s hope he’s out there, I’m a big fan of OG’s.”
Anunoby averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals on 48% shooting from the field and 38.6% shooting from 3-point range under Brown this season with the Knicks.
