It wasn’t very long ago that the New York Knicks’ hold on a spot outside of the NBA Play-In Tournament looked to be in jeopardy. After a disappointing loss to the Atlanta Hawks, they were dangerously close to falling into the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference.
The team was trying to tread water given all of the injuries they were dealing with. After a nine-game winning streak was snapped, the Knicks lost eight of 11 games, punctuated by the loss to Atlanta.
Needing to right the ship, New York picked up a huge victory over the Orlando Magic, but followed it up with the worst offensive performance in the NBA this season, losing 79-73 to the Philadelphia 76ers. Thankfully, after that, reinforcements arrived.
New York got OG Anunoby back in the lineup in the second game of the two-game series against the 76ers and his impact was felt immediately. He helped the team win 106-79, picking right back up where he left off before his elbow injury cost him 18 games.
Unfortunately, his stay was short-lived. Anunoby would play in three games, all victories, before being sidelined again. He aggravated something in his elbow against the Portland Trail Blazers and was in visible pain.
The team opted to send him for an MRI back in New York, which luckily came back clean. According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, Anunoby’s elbow has shown improvement since Monday, but the Knicks are going to take their time bringing him back.
“The approach to Anunoby’s current ailment will be a conservative one, per people briefed on the matter. The team will not rush Anunoby back, but it’s worth noting that the irritation in his elbow has shown improvement since Monday, people briefed on the matter said on Tuesday,” Begley wrote.
Anunoby has not officially been ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, but he isn’t expected to play. While certainly disappointing he will be on the sidelines once again, it does sound like any serious injuries have been avoided.
It is smart for the Knicks to take a cautious approach with Anunoby. They need him as close to 100 percent healthy as possible if they are going to make any noise in the NBA playoffs, especially if Julius Randle isn’t going to be playing like his normal self.
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