Veteran New York Knicks guard Miles McBride is ready to “step up” if the OG Anunoby injury is severe enough to sideline the 3-and-D star.
“Extremely comfortable,” McBride said of filling in for Anunoby, via the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy.
“I feel like the coaching staff trusts me, I know my teammates trust me and I trust myself overall. So if that happens, I know I’ll be ready. …(Anunoby’s) one of the best two-way players in the league so it’s tough to replace that but you don’t replace him with one guy. Everyone is going to have to step up.”
“Extremely comfortable. I feel like the coaching staff trusts me, I know my teammates trust me and I trust myself overall. So if that happens, I know I’ll be ready. …(Anunoby’s) one of the best two-way players
OG Anunoby Injury Update
Anunoby sustained an apparent lower leg injury in the closing moments of New York’s 108-102 Game 2 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. The incident occurred with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter when Anunoby limped off the court after Sixers star Paul George blocked his dunk attempt. He immediately signaled to the bench and came out of the game.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown said he had no update on Anunoby’s injury.
“It looked like he was hopping, but I don’t know anything,” Brown said, via ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill.
“They haven’t told me. I just know he left the game. Nobody said he was back. I haven’t talked to anybody yet.”
Knicks Seize 2-0 Series Lead
Knicks starters Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges echoed McBride’s sentiments, stressing that the team had enough depth to survive OG’s injury.
“I really don’t know. We’ll regroup tomorrow and see what the whole situation is,” Towns said when asked if the Anunoby injury would hut the Knicks’ chemistry.
“We’ll see what it is, but it’s next man up,” Bridges said.
“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. I don’t know too much,” Brunson said.
Anunoby, who had 24 points, five rebounds and four steals in Wednesday’s win, has arguably been New York’s second-best player throughout the playoffs. The 3-and-D star has averaged 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks on immaculate 62/54/81 shooting splits, while making 2.6 threes per game.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps worries that the Anunoby injury could derail the Knicks.
“What is the status of Anunoby, who left Game 2 late and didn’t return after appearing to grab at his right leg,” Bontemps wrote of the biggest question entering Game 3.
“Anunoby, in particular, has been tremendous throughout New York’s run so far, and Philadelphia doesn’t have a great matchup for him.”
Knicks vs. 76ers Game 3 tips off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday. The series shifts to Philadelphia after New York retained home advantage with a 2-0 series lead.
Knicks Star Vows to ‘Step Up’ Amid Devastating OG Anunoby Injury