The Knicks didn’t fare well without OG Anunoby within the lineup last season or in the course of the playoffs, so that they need to be hoping the indispensable two-way forward won’t miss significant time with the worrisome noncontact injury he suffered in Saturday’s home loss to the Lakers.
Anunoby, who inked the richest contract in team history over the summer, officially has been listed as questionable for Monday’s game against the Rockets on the Garden to conclude a five-game homestand.
Anunoby dropped to 1 knee and clutched the back of his right foot before hobbling to the locker room within the third quarter, but initial X-rays got here back negative, and the Knicks still are terming the injury as a sprain.
“It’s obviously scary. You care a lot for these guys, and we care a lot for one another, you never wish to see that occur to considered one of your brothers,” said teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, who went over to ascertain on Anunoby before he left the sport, after Saturday’s loss. “So it’s obviously not something you ought to see.
“I’m not talking about [what was said], I’m just attempting to be certain he’s in good spirits and all the pieces goes well. … We’ll take it day-to-day and see what happens and see by Monday what we’re taking a look at.”
Counting the playoffs last season, the Knicks went 26-6 with Anunoby within the lineup following his late-December arrival in a trade with the Raptors, but they were 14-17 when he was sidelined with elbow and hamstring injuries.
Adding of their current 32-17 record with him playing in all 49 games this season — together with only Mikal Bridges — the Knicks have posted a whopping winning percentage of .753 (58-19) with the 6-foot-7 Anunoby within the lineup since he’s been with the team.
“Obviously, at any time when someone goes down, we comprehend it’s a component of the sport, but obviously there’s a humane aspect to it,” Josh Hart said. “So obviously, we hope he’s good, and that’s all the time tough, that’s all the time tough seeing considered one of your guys go down, especially the best way he’s been playing all season — especially the last 4 or five games.”
The 27-year-old Anunoby is the Knicks’ best perimeter defender, able to guarding and locking down larger and smaller opposing players. He averages 16.4 points and 1.4 steals in 36.4 minutes while shooting 36.5 percent from 3-point range this season.
“Obviously, he’s an enormous a part of our team,” Jalen Brunson said. “It’s all the time tough to see something like that, especially a teammate and any person which means rather a lot to you and your team. … Obviously, we’re praying for the most effective.”
Anunoby and since-traded forward Julius Randle went down in the identical game on Jan. 27, 2024, with the Knicks riding a 12-2 spurt. Anunoby underwent surgery and missed the following games, while Randle didn’t play one other game for the Knicks, eventually also choosing surgery on his shoulder.
Anunoby was back within the lineup on March 12, after six weeks sidelined, and the Knicks finished the season on a 13-5 push to succeed in 50 wins and earn the No. 2 seed within the Eastern Conference.
Following a first-round elimination of the 76ers, nevertheless, Anunoby strained his hamstring in Game 2 against the Pacers and missed the following 4 games, with the Knicks losing three to force a decisive seventh game. Anunoby attempted to play within the series finale, but he was out of the sport after five minutes and was unable to return in what turned out to be a season-ending 130-109 defeat.
“We lost, so it sucks,” Anunoby said after that game. “Was just trying, but couldn’t really sprint, couldn’t really jump, but just tried my best.
“I just desired to play. I desired to not less than try to help my teammates. We’ve been working really hard so I desired to not less than be on the market. … I just couldn’t move.”
Anunoby re-signed within the offseason to a team-record $212.5 million contract over five years, which was considered a risk for a player who has appeared in 50 or fewer games in three of the previous 4 seasons — and in greater than 70 only once in his eight-year NBA profession. He also missed the Raptors’ title run in 2019 after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.
