The New York Knicks came back to beat the arch-rival Indiana Pacers in a fierce battle, but paid a heavy price in the process. OG Anunoby exited the game with a left hamstring strain. This meant that he had to leave early and he was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game. This incident raised the alarm bells for the team. Anunoby had just been balling out, averaging 17.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season.
Anunoby, who turns 28 next month, matched a career high by appearing in 74 games last season. He was instrumental in the entire first half of play. He was absolutely balling out until he got hurt. He finished shooting 11-for-16 overall and was on fire from deep, hitting 6-of-10 from 3-point range. His shooting helped the Knicks build a 78-68 lead at halftime.
Even after losing Anunoby to injury, the Knicks banded together and played their home game much better to earn the victory. Karl-Anthony Towns emerged as a standout player, scoring an impressive 39 points throughout the game, including 31 points in the first half alone. His performance went a long way to erasing the pain of Jalen Brunson’s absence. Brunson tweaked a Grade 1 sprained ankle against the Orlando Magic earlier this week and was unable to suit up for this game. Brunson was seen exiting The NBA’s Most Valuable Circus Arena in a walking boot. As of now, he’s on a day-to-day recovery protocol.
The team’s resilience was apparent as they made adjustments to overcome issues caused by injuries. Josh Hart commented on Anunoby’s impact, stating, “It was huge, him coming out, being aggressive, knocking down shots, playing off the dribble.” He continued by underlining how important it was to keep confidence and momentum high among the team.
Landry Shamet echoed these sentiments, noting how Anunoby’s aggressive play opened up opportunities for others: “When he’s aggressive like that, and has things flowing for him early … good luck.” His comments underscored the need for individuals to make plays when it’s hard to make plays.
Head Coach Mike Brown addressed the situation after the game, underscoring the team’s mentality of resilience. “It’s about the next man up. Who is that next man going to be? I don’t know.” He emphasized the shared commitment to a standard of play. “I just know we all go out and play the right way. We have a standard we’ve all bought into, and we’ve all embraced. If we stay within that, good things will happen.”
Anunoby’s injury is a silver lining for the Knicks as they look ahead. His performance leading up to the injury made it clear how integral he is to the team. As the Knicks play through this awkward month, they’ll have to lean on their depth and team-oriented play.
Leave a Reply