Knicks Face Late-Game Injury Scare but Grab 2-0 Lead on 76ers
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The New York Knicks edged the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday to secure a 2-0 advantage in their Eastern Conference semifinal, yet the victory was marred by a fourth-quarter injury to forward OG Anunoby.
Anunoby appeared to strain his right hamstring on a missed dunk with just over three minutes remaining. The 28-year-old briefly grabbed the back of his leg, limped up the court and signaled to the bench before being replaced. He did not return.
“It looked like he was hopping, but I don’t know anything,” head coach Mike Brown told reporters after the game. “They haven’t told me. I just know he left the game.” No additional update had been issued as of Thursday morning. Anunoby is averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 35.3 playoff minutes.
Bridges Answers Critics
Mikal Bridges, whose scoring dropped to 14.4 points per game in the regular season after New York traded five first-round picks for him and later extended him for $150 million over four years, has surged in the postseason. The wing has 35 points on 16-for-23 shooting (69.6%) through two games against Philadelphia while serving as a primary defender on Tyrese Maxey. Maxey is 12-for-32 (37.5%) from the field with 10 turnovers in the series.
McBride Ready for Bigger Role
Guard Miles McBride said he is prepared to take on additional minutes if Anunoby misses time. “I feel like the coaching staff trusts me, I know my teammates trust me and I trust myself,” McBride said.
Foul Concerns
Brown also voiced frustration over foul trouble that has plagued his frontcourt for a second straight contest. He cited a sequence in which Karl-Anthony Towns picked up a third or fourth foul near mid-court following contact with Maxey, suggesting the whistle could be more balanced as the series progresses.
Draft Prospects Visit
The Knicks conducted a pre-draft workout Tuesday that included Texas Tech wing Donovan Atwell, Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau, Kentucky center Malachi Moreno and Ohio guard Jackson Paveletzke. New York holds the 24th, 31st and 55th selections in June’s draft.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 with Anunoby’s status still uncertain.
Source: Hoops Rumors
