It has been a remarkable playoff run for the Knicks, driven by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby.
After falling behind the Hawks 2-1 in round one, the Knicks won seven straight, closing out the Hawks in three and sweeping the 76ers. All but one of these victories were by at least 14 points. Their two losses to the Hawks were by just one point each, showing how close they are to a perfect postseason.
Not all the news is positive. Anunoby missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. However, the Knicks got a positive update on Friday.
Knicks Get Positive Update On OG Anunoby
Although Anunoby’s injury is considered “very, very minor,” it has kept him out for two straight games.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reports that Anunoby participated fully in Knicks practice on Friday.
OG Anunoby was a full participant in practice today, Mike Brown says.
Encouraging update.
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) May 15, 2026
Bondy further noted that Knicks’ head coach Mike Brown said Anunoby “did everything we did in practice.”
This is great news for the Knicks. Closing out the 76ers allowed time for players to recover as they await the Pistons-Cavaliers winner.
With their strong postseason, the second-seeded Celtics collapsing to the 76ers, blowing a 3-1 first-round series and the top-seeded Pistons nearly losing to the Magic and now behind the Cavs 3-2, things are setting up well for the Knicks to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since their loss to the Spurs in 1999.
Detroit or Cleveland awaits next, followed by a potential matchup with the Thunder, Spurs, or Timberwolves. The challenge grows, so getting Anunoby back is critical for continued success.
Anunoby averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field and 38.6% from three during the regular season.
During the postseason, Anunoby has elevated his performance, averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from three.
Those strong stats make Anunoby a clear third option behind Brunson and Towns, making it harder for the opposition to defend.
Cleveland hosts Detroit on Friday in Game 6. With a win, the Cavs face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 19. If Detroit wins the series, Game 1 would be in Detroit. The Pistons and Cavs tip-off at 7:00 p.m. ET, while the Spurs will travel to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves with a chance to advance to the Western Conference Finals at 9:30 p.m. ET. Both games will air on Prime.
