The Knicks are listing forward OG Anunoby as out for Game 3 of their first-round series against the Pacers on Friday due to a left hamstring strain, per the NBA’s latest injury report. Anunoby suffered the injury during New York’s Game 2 win on Wednesday.
Anunoby is the latest addition to a growing list of injured Knicks frontcourt players. The team was already missing Julius Randle entering the postseason due to season-ending shoulder surgery. Since the playoffs began, Bojan Bogdanovic has gone down with foot and wrist injuries, while Mitchell Robinson was diagnosed with a stress injury in his left ankle. Both Bogdanovic and Robinson are expected to miss the rest of the postseason.
Anunoby missed several weeks during the second half of the season due to an elbow issue, but he had been playing heavy minutes since his return. He averaged 41.6 MPG in the first round against Philadelphia and logged 42 minutes in Game 1 versus Indiana before exiting Game 2 early.
The Knicks have leaned heavily on their starters since the postseason began, but playing without Anunoby may force head coach Tom Thibodeau to promote one or more of his little-used reserves into the rotation.
Even if Jalen Brunson, who is listed as questionable for Game 3 due to right foot soreness, is fine to suit up, Brunson, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo, Isaiah Hartenstein, Miles McBride and Precious Achiuwa are the only available Knicks who have seen any real action in the playoffs.
Alec Burks, who got off the bench for 44 seconds at the end of the first half in Game 1, looks like the top candidate to enter the rotation. Shake Milton, Jericho Sims, DaQuan Jeffries and Mamadi Diakite make up the rest of New York’s 15-man roster.
The Knicks have yet to make any official announcement on Anunoby’s injury, but depending on the severity of the strain, it’s the sort of ailment that could certainly sideline him for more than just one game.
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