The Knicks sent OG Anunoby back to New York for another MRI on his surgically repaired right elbow, according to Steve Popper of Newsday. Anunoby, who underwent a procedure on February 8 to have loose bone fragments removed, returned to the lineup last week. He managed to play three games, but often looked uncomfortable and shot just 1-of-8 at Sacramento on Saturday. After he was downgraded to out for Monday’s game against Golden State, the team decided to have him go home for more testing.
“He’s coming back from surgery. We want to make sure that he’s completely healthy,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We knew this was a possibility when you bring a guy back from surgery. If there’s discomfort and stuff and he can’t function the way that we feel he needs to function on the court we’re just going to give him the time that he needs to let it calm down and we’ll go from there.”
The Knicks will wrap up their road trip Thursday at Denver, and Anunoby is expected to miss that game as well. Thibodeau declined to speculate that Anunoby might have returned from surgery before he was fully ready.
“You can’t work backward,” he told reporters. “There were many steps he had to go through. He met all the markers and he was cleared. This is a possibility whenever you come back from surgery, this is what you’re looking at. And so, we feel good about where he is. Just give him the time that he needs.”
There’s more on the Knicks:
- Miles McBride turned in a career night in leading New York to a win over the Warriors, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. McBride scored 29 points in 46 minutes and served as the primary defender on Stephen Curry for most of his time on the court. “He was huge for us, obviously,” Josh Hart said. “Everyone’s gonna see the box score and see he shot the ball very well and was very efficient, but he did that while guarding Steph, pressuring him, running around with him all game. So he was huge for us and something that we need.”
- Donte DiVincenzo broke out of a shooting slump with 18 points in his first game back in San Francisco after playing for the Warriors last season, Bondy adds. DiVincenzo said he asked for Curry’s advice before signing with the Knicks last summer. “If you played with him, wouldn’t you want to?” DiVincenzo said. “That’s pretty much as simple as it was. I had a relationship with him on and off the court. Obviously, I value his opinion.”
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Jalen Brunson is “high on the list” for a spot on Team USA for the Summer Olympics, Bondy states in a separate story. Brunson is part of a 41-player pool that will have to be trimmed down to 12.
They say the MRI was clean. So just healing pains, I guess. Just get healthy and be ready for playoffs.
Literally you need the whole team. To get by this season. Most important to me is to be healthy for playoffs. Time is closing in on Knicks. Gotta hang in there 4th seed.
link to bleacherreport.com
What a Night for McBride ……
Had 29 pts and held Curry to 40% FG. Actually outscored Curry. Career night.
You should be concerned on minutes the coach is playing his starters right now. He could be burning them out for the playoffs. Playing 2 players the entire game is a lot of stress on them for the future. It was Hart not McBride that played the defense on Curry.
McBride was on him for a good chunk of the game, especially beyond the perimeter. Hart picked him up on screens.
Miles McBride Set the Tone
McBride’s defense set the tone for the Knicks win as he held Curry scoreless in the opening quarter. Curry did not score his first field goal until there were only 5:23 remaining in the second quarter.
McBride held the greatest shooter in NBA history to 4 of 13 shooting and 2 turnovers in the 51 possessions as his primary defender, per NBA.com matchup tracker. Curry finished on 8 for 20 from the field and 4 of 13 from the 3-point range.
link to heavy.com
I watch the games I talk about. You might need this …….
Curry coming off ankle injury did the same against the lakers. Not score in the first quarter but still scored 27 points.
Dude ……. I’m not making a deal here.
Just showing McBride is growing up as a player. Him standing up to Curry is a Huge deal. For a young guy, you need as your backup PG. This is why I knew we could move IQ.
We are missing three starters. Bench is suppose to play mins. It’s not every night they do it. Other starters ……
Donte is avg 27 mins ……
Brunson is avg 35 mins ……
I’d say my top guys ……. I’d like to see at 34-38 mins for the year.
Saw Thibs smile/laugh last night. Face muscles must be sore. Couldn’t believe my eyes.
The NYK FO practice of not speaking with the media is one I generally approve of, but it does make it frustrating on injuries. IDK whether there is more information than that reported, but I do know that if there was, the fans won’t be informed of it until the issue is resolved, one way or the other.
With Anunoby, the surgery wasn’t reported until it could be accompanied by a statement that it went great and he’ll be back soon. In-season surgery is avoided for a reason, even a clean up procedure. While soreness in a previously immobilized area is a given, going home for an MRI isn’t. With Randle and Mitch, the news is basically they might play in the next week, or not at all. They certainly know a lot more than they say. Who knows if they don’t want to raise the fanbase’s expectations, or they don’t want to depress them.
Knicks starting TEAM :::::
PG – Brunson…
SG – Donte…
SF – OG …
PF – Randle…
C – Hartenstein…
In a perfect world !!!!!
Rumors and stories are. They will all be back for playoffs. So !!!!!!
What’s the rotation ????
Mitch, Hart, McBride, Achiuwa, Bogdan, Sims, Burkes, Milton
I like this team. They play both ways. And are tough minded. I hope they make it. Playoffs will be fun.
Going to be exciting to see. Especially if Bogdan can get hot and spark that 2nd unit. Hopefully Achiuwa losing PT won’t screw up his play. He’s been a big contributor since Randle went down.
I like Mitch starting and Hartenstein coming off the bench. He brings a different type of energy and game to the court.