New York Knicks starting small forward OG Anunoby, who has emerged as a key two-way piece since arriving from the Toronto Raptors in a trade earlier this season, was a surprise scratch for tonight’s road matchup against the Golden State Warriors, scheduled for 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET. Anunoby had just recently returned from an 18-game absence. He suffered a right elbow injury that required surgery. Ian Begley of SNY.tv has more:
NBA’s injury report lists NYK’s OG Anunoby as out for tonight’s game against Golden State. Anunoby is listed as out due to injury management of his right elbow. Anunoby, coming off elbow surgery, was questionable prior to NYK’s win vs SAC on Saturday but ultimately played in game
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 18, 2024
Head coach Tom Thibodeau revealed that Anunoby’s nagging elbow worsened today. The veteran wing returned to New York for imaging and further analysis. Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News reports that the elbow doesn’t seem to have major structural damage.
OG Anunoby “flared up,” according to Thibodeau.
Anunoby flew home. MRI came back clean. Unlike the plays in Denver.
This is all from Thibs.
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) March 19, 2024
The 6’7″ 3-and-D wingman has looked solid on both sides of the floor with New York. In his 17 available games with the franchise, he’s averaging 14.5 points on incredibly efficient .497/.364/.825 shooting splits. He’s also notching averages of 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks per bout.
Soobum Im/Getty Images
Anunoby started off red-hot for the Knicks. The club went 12-2 during its first 14 matchups with him on the roster, prior to his elbow injury. The team is certainly hoping it can resume its winning ways whenever he does return It appears probable Anunoby will miss several games for the club, short-term.
New York is currently 40-27 and boasts the fourth seed in a competitive Eastern Conference. Golden State, meanwhile, is 35-31. The Warriors are merely the West’s No. 9 seed, with the Los Angeles Lakers nipping at their heels. They will take any Knicks absence they can get, as they struggle to escape the play-in tournament bracket. New York seems to be safe on that front, but is playing for homecourt advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs this year.
Bondy reveals that young wing Miles McBride will start in Anunoby’s stead tonight against Golden State. McBride is an intriguing player who’s shown plenty of promise, but he’s no Anunoby. It’s a bummer for New York. The team remains without All-Star power forward Julius Randle, its second-most prolific scorer, indefinitely.
Miles McBride is starting for the Knicks.
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) March 19, 2024
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.