The New York Knicks will be without OG Anunoby, their second-leading scorer, for Game 3 of their second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. Anunoby suffered a right hamstring strain in Game 2 and had been listed as questionable. The team ruled him out in the lead-up to Friday’s game.
Anunoby sustained the injury with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on Wednesday. He could be seen grabbing at his right hamstring and favoring one leg as he signaled to the bench to be taken out of the game. He then went back to the locker room and didn’t return.
Knicks coach Mike Brown did not have an update on Anunoby immediately following the win, which increased New York’s series lead to 2-0, but noticed something was bothering him late in the fourth quarter.
“It looked like he was hopping, but I don’t know anything,” Brown said. “They haven’t told me. I just know he left the game. Nobody said he was back. I haven’t talked to anybody yet.”
On the other side, the 76ers were without Joel Embiid in Game 2 with hip soreness and an ankle sprain, but he will play in Game 3, the team announced before tipoff. Embiid was listed as questionable on the injury report throughout the day Thursday and Friday, and coach Nick Nurse told reporters that the big man had shown improvement over the last few days. After clearing a few last hurdles in pregame warmups, Embiid was declared active and in the starting lineup as the 76ers look to avoid a 3-0 hole.
How will Anunoby’s absence affect the Knicks?
It’s a tough blow for the Knicks, as Anunoby has been arguably their most important player throughout the playoffs. He’s averaging 21.4 points and has been scorching hot from 3-point range, shooting 53.8%. Anunoby, who scored 24 points in 37 minutes on Wednesday before exiting, is also New York’s best defensive player.
Though Anunoby’s absence leaves a massive hole in the Knicks’ lineup, the Knicks are up 2-0 in the series and can afford to take a cautious approach with Anunoby, who has a history of hamstring strains (a left hamstring strain kept him out of Games 3-6 of the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals).
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While Anunoby will be out, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson will play in Game 3. Hart was previously listed as questionable with a left thumb sprain, while Robinson missed Game 2 with an illness. Hart is a key role player who stuffs the stat sheet. He’s only scored 13 points through the first two games of the series, but he’s also contributed 15 rebounds, 12 assists and six steals.
Brown will likely call on Miles McBride to fill in Anunoby’s spot in the starting lineup. McBride’s scoring can fill some of the void left by Anunoby, and he’s a pest defensively, which will come in handy as the Knicks will continue to try to slow Sixers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey.
