OG

Anunoby

Anunoby started this game off hot, scoring 17 points in the first half. He ended up having his highest-scoring performance since the first round, and he came up big late with a three-pointer with nine seconds left to bring the Knicks within two points. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to a win, but the Knicks still lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 in New York again on Thursday. Anunoby made plenty of impressive shots in this game, and they’ll need that high level shot-making to continue throughout the series.

Anunoby had been quiet on the offensive end up until the fourth quarter of Game 1, when he drilled a couple of huge three-pointers before finishing with 12 points in the final period. The veteran wing didn’t shoot as efficiently as he had over the first three rounds of the playoffs, but still managed to come up big when it mattered most on Wednesday to help New York to a come-from-behind win. Anunoby logged 31 minutes and appears to be recovering from his hamstring injury well. He’ll have a chance to help the Knicks take a 2-0 series lead on Friday.

After struggling for most of Game 1 in his first game back from a hamstring injury, Anunoby has looked sharper in Games 2 and 3. On Saturday, the Knicks’ forward shot 60 percent from the field and was also impactful as a rebounder and facilitator. And after shooting 3-of-10 from beyond the arc in the first two games, Anunoby made three of four attempts in Game 3. OG and the Knicks will look to complete the series sweep with a win on Monday night.

It took a while for Anunoby to find his rhythm in his first game back from a hamstring injury. However, he found offensive production at just the right time, as he scored nine of New York’s 14 points in overtime to help complete the largest comeback in the franchise’s history. Most importantly, Anunoby logged 34 minutes in his return and appeared to finish the game without any new or aggravated injuries. His status going into Game 2 will be one to monitor.

The Knicks will have their starting forward back for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Anunoby had missed the final two games of the second-round series against the Sixers, but his return on Tuesday will provide New York with more versatility on both sides of the ball. He’s averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 assists on 61.9/53.8/81.1 shooting splits during the postseason.

Anunoby missed Games 3 and 4 of the Knicks’ series against the 76ers, but he is expected to return to take on Cleveland. This doesn’t come as a surprise after he was a full participant in practice last week. Miles McBride replaced him in the starting lineup but will head back to the bench with Anunoby likely to return.

Due to their four-game sweep of the 76ers, the Knicks have not played since Sunday, May 10. Anunoby missed the final two games after straining his right hamstring late in Game 2, but there’s optimism that he’ll be ready for the Eastern Conference Finals. Friday’s practice participation is the latest bit of good news regarding the Knicks’ forward, who did everything without any restrictions. If Cleveland wins Game 6 against Detroit on Friday, the conference finals will begin on Sunday. However, if the Pistons force a decisive Game 7 that would be played on Sunday, Game 1 of the conference finals won’t be until Tuesday, May 19.

After sweeping Philadelphia in the conference semifinals, the earliest that the Knicks will play again is on Sunday, May 17. Anunoby has been out since suffering a minor strain of his right hamstring during the latter stages of Game 2 of the conference semifinals and has not played since. He has been limited to individual work in recent practices, but there’s reportedly optimism that the forward will be ready for Game 1. If Detroit can force a Game 7, the conference finals would not begin until May 19, which would mean 13 days to recover for Anunoby. Miles McBride has been the replacement in the starting lineup, and he made seven three-pointers in the series-clinching Game 4 rout of the 76ers.

After offering limited production as OG Anunoby’s replacement in the starting lineup for Game 3, McBride was outstanding in Sunday’s series clincher. Deuce shot 7-of-9 from beyond the arc, sinking one fewer three pointer than the 76ers did as a team. McBride led the Knicks in scoring, while Landry Shamet contributed 12 points and four three-pointers in 11 minutes off the bench. What their roles will be in the conference finals depends on Anunoby’s hamstring, which he strained late in Game 2.

Anunoby is set to miss his second consecutive game in this series after injuring his hamstring in the fourth quarter of Game 2. The Knicks won Game 3 without him and with a 3-0 lead in the series can be cautious with the 28-year-old small forward’s injury. Miles McBride could start again in Game 4 with Landry Shamet seeing additional minutes off the bench in Anunoby’s absence.