PHILADELPHIA – As the Knicks prepare for Game 3 against the Sixers, OG Anunoby’s status was still to be determined as of Thursday evening.
That fact alone tells you that the Knicks avoided all worst-case scenarios on Anunoby’s hamstring injury.
The general feeling on Anunoby’s hamstring strain? Optimism. He is considered day-to-day. But he’s not day-to-day, as in ‘he’s really out for 10 days.’ Anunoby is truly day-to-day.
As noted on The Putback earlier Thursday, the hamstring strain is considered a minor one.
There was optimism in the Knicks locker room that Anunoby will be able to play either in Game 3 on Friday or Game 4 on Sunday.
My personal opinion: sit Anunoby on Friday and see what happens in Game 3. Then base your decision for Sunday’s Game 4 on what happens Friday.
If you are up 3-0, isn’t it prudent to give Anunoby extra time to heal?
Based on conversations earlier Thursday, I think people on all sides of the injury believe Anunoby’s absence will be counted in days and not weeks. (A quick aside: I know that is a triggering phrase for those who followed the Julius Randle shoulder rehab in 2024. Just to be clear: SNY never reported that Randle would be out for weeks and not months.)
Back to Anunoby.
The Knicks are fortunate that, barring a setback, Anunoby will be back on the floor soon. He has arguably been the most impactful player of their postseason. The wing has defended at a high level and is averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. The Knicks have outscored opponents by an average of 14.75 points per game when Anunoby is on the floor.
ALL HAIL MIKAL
It’s probably gone under the radar, but Mikal Bridges has been playing at a high level lately. In the Knicks’ last three playoff games, Bridges is averaging 19.4 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal per game.
He’s also been a key part of the Knicks’ strong defense in that stretch.
“If there is one player that I wanna make sure that I mention, it’s Mikal Bridges,” Mike Brown said at the end of his opening statement to the media after Game 2. “You’re not stopping Tyrese Maxey. Tyrese, he had a great game. He had 26 points. But Mikal tried to make him work, especially in the second half, for every point he got…And then on top of that, Mikal hit some big shots for us down the stretch, especially when we looked a little discombobulated offensively. He got to his spot and knocked down some big shots. So great game on both ends of the floor for Mikal.”
Bridges has certainly turned things around from earlier in the postseason. He played an average of 20 minutes in Games 3 and 4 against Atlanta, going scoreless in one game and scoring eight points in the next.
In the second half of Game 2 on Wednesday, Bridges helped hold an injured Maxey to 3 of 9 shooting and nine points.
“It started with Mikal. I feel like he’s just been great for us at the point of attack,” Miles McBride said after the game. “And, you know, the team’s been locked in. He’s a tough player. And, you know, for Mikal, he’s going to just keep going at him, but, you know, Mikal’s a great player. He’s going to step up every time.”
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