A playoff win should have left New York feeling nothing but good. Instead, the last few minutes of Game 2 brought that uneasy feeling for Knicks fans.
Now the mood around this series hangs on one scan. OG Anunoby’s late exit turned the focus from the scoreboard to his right hamstring, and the wait feels massive with the series moving to Philadelphia.
Doctor maps out OG Anunoby’s injury timeline
GettyNew York Knicks star OG Anunoby left Game 2 versus the Philadelphia 76ers and did not return to the game.
Anunoby left late in the 108-102 win over the 76ers and did not return, which immediately put the spotlight on his leg.
Early concern from the bench only added to it. As Mike Brown said after the game, “I haven’t talked to anybody. He looked like he was hopping. I have not talked to medical yet.”
Mike Brown was asked about OG Anunoby’s status after he left the game in the 4th quarter:
That is where outside doctor analysis becomes useful, even if it is not the team’s official diagnosis. Jesse Morse, M.D, one of the injury experts, gave the first clear framework for what the Knicks could be dealing with.
Morse tweeted, “I think there’s a good chance. He will get an MRI either last night or this morning.”
The best outcome is the one every Knicks fan is hoping for right now, that this is more scare than serious damage. Morse put it plainly: “Best case scenario it’s not a full strain and just a mild ‘tweak’ with no changes. He would likely miss 1-2 games.”
If the MRI shows more than that, the picture changes fast. Morse said, “If this shows a grade 1 strain (mild), his series will be over but he could potentially return in two weeks with the right treatments assuming everything goes well for the Knicks with the series.”
And if it lands in the worst bucket he outlined, this becomes a season-level blow. Morse said, “If it is a grade 2, moderate, partial tear, these take 6-8 weeks, think Luka Doncic, then his season is likely over unfortunately.” That is why the MRI matters so much. The gap between tweak and tear is everything.
Knicks must brace for 1-2 games without OG Anunoby
GettyThere is a high possibility that OG Anunoby will miss 1-2 games vs 76ers.
If Morse’s best-case timeline holds, the next two games are the pressure point. It gets more complicated if Joel Embiid is able to return soon. That is not confirmed yet, but it is part of the stress around this moment.
Going on the road without Anunoby’s wing defense, rebounding, and transition finishing would be hard enough. Doing it against a more complete Philadelphia team would test everybody.
The Knicks do not have a clean one-for-one answer for OG, and that is the truth. His value touches both ends of the floor. That means more responsibility for Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride, plus more discipline from the whole rotation.
McBride said it best: “He’s one of the best two-way players in the league, and it’s tough to replace that. You don’t replace it with one guy. Everybody’s going to have to step up,” as per the NY Post.
That is where this stands. The Knicks still have control of the series, but the MRI will tell us whether this is a short playoff scare or a much bigger problem.
Knicks’ OG Anunoby Injury Update: Doctor Reveals Possible Return Timeline