New York Knicks wing OG Anunoby will return to the court tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers after missing the last 18 games with an elbow injury.
SQUAD 💪 pic.twitter.com/clkaqkUcFd
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 12, 2024
On Monday, it was reported that Anunoby could return next week but that he may be back as early as Tuesday’s matchup.
Knicks Get OG Anunoby Back Ahead of Sixers Matchup
After going 12-2 immediately after trading for Anunoby, the Knicks have gone just 8-10 since the 3-and-D star went out of the lineup.
Of course, this is partially due to All-Star forward Julius Randle last suiting up on Jan. 27 due to a dislocated shoulder. To that point, where Anunoby opted to have surgery to remove a loose bone fragment from his elbow on Feb. 8, Randle has been waffling on whether or not he should undergo shoulder surgery.
However, New York has seen their play at both ends impacted, failing to stop teams from knocking down shots on the perimeter of make 3s themselves. That’s where Anunoby comes in. A highly-touted perimeter defender, the six-year pro is averaging 1.3 steals per game. Since joining the Knicks, Anunoby is averaging 1.8 steals per game, which would be the second-highest mark of his career.
He also shoots 37.9 percent from 3 this season, with a career 3-point percentage of 37.6. Since joining the Knicks, his numbers have gone up here as well. In 14 games, Anunoby is shooting 39.1 percent from 3, which would be a career-high. In that time, he shot 40.4 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s, highlighting his fit as an off-ball weapon beside a pair of crafty on-ball scorers in Randle and Jalen Brunson.
A Test Run
In some ways, Anunoby is getting a test run against the Knicks.
It’s not a meaningless exhibition, particularly with both teams jostling for playoff position. Separated by just 1.0 game in the Eastern Conference standings, the Knicks are currently the fourth seed at 37-27. The Sixers, 36-28, are sixth in the East. Nonetheless, New York needs pay special attention to how the 26-year-old feels after the game.
In missing a month and a half’s worth of games, Anunoby’s legs will be a bit fresher than they otherwise would have been.
This could play to the Knicks’ advantage. Not only should his energy level be higher than many of his opponents, but Swiss Army Knife Josh Hart has been logging heavy minutes in Anunoby’s absence. After playing 39.9 minutes per game in February, he averaged 43.5 minutes per game in March.
Hart has the conditioning and endurance necessary to play as long as necessary. However, giving him time to rest benefits him physically and mentally.
To that point, Anunoby is also playing a fast-paced sport against many of the world’s top athletes. A sport in which there’s constant movement for 48 minutes. Subsequently, due to amount of the time he’s been out, Anunoby’s conditioning may be at a suboptimal level. That said, if Anunoby’s first game back is a bit too physically draining, it won’t be surprising to see him sitting out for rest in New York’s next game.
How the Knicks resolve issues related to his is less unclear than ambiguous though.
If his elbow is sore, they may let him rest, focusing on having him completely healthy for the playoffs. As a precaution, they could also ask him to undergo medical examinations. Depending on the results, Anunoby could opt for cortisol shots. The last option, a normalized practice in the NBA, would bring him temporary relief. However, it won’t fix any underlying problems.
