After dispatching the Atlanta Hawks in the opening round and sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks are firing on all cylinders.
Looking every bit the part of a legitimate championship contender, the Knicks’ ceiling also relies a lot on the health of their premier two-way forward.
OG Anunoby, who went down with a hamstring strain in Game 2 against the Sixers, offered a much-needed update to the Knicks faithful ahead of the ECF matchup.
OG Anunoby Brushes Off Hamstring Injury as the Knicks Prepare for the Eastern Conference Finals
Anunoby’s injury looked ominous when he limped off the floor late in Game 2 on May 6 against Philadelphia.
Several Knicks faithful likely had flashbacks to the 2024 playoffs, when a left hamstring strain kept him out for most of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.
However, Anunoby insisted that the current situation is entirely different. He was listed as questionable for Games 3 and 4 before eventually being ruled out of both matchups.
Returning to full practice this week, he alleviated concerns around his injury and described the initial sensation as “weird more than painful.”
“It didn’t feel as bad as the past when it happened,” Anunoby said. “So knowing that, just trying to improve it day by day.”
Thanks to New York making light work of its Round 2 opponents, Anunoby had a lot of time to recover.
The Knicks have been resting since completing the sweep, watching the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons force a Game 7 showdown on Sunday.
That extended break pushes the start of the Eastern Conference Finals to Tuesday.
“I think everyone’s excited for the games to start, so just letting the other series play out,” Anunoby said. “So if it was tomorrow, it’s going to be Tuesday now, just be ready whenever it is.”
Knicks teammate Mikal Bridges also dismissed any lingering concerns about his fellow wing defender’s availability.
“He’s been back, and he looks good to me,” Bridges said. “So I think maybe the crowd, maybe the fans and media worried a little bit more, but I know how OG works and how his body is, so I think he’ll be all right.”
The Cavaliers and Pistons present different challenges on their own, but regardless of the opponent, the Knicks will benefit from Anunoby’s availability. The 28-year-old is enjoying the most efficient offensive stretch of his career during the playoffs, averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds so far.
