OG Anunoby and Josh Hart are both “on course to play” when the Knicks host the Pacers in Game 7 this afternoon, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Both players will participate in a walkthrough, and a final decision on their availability will be made close to game time.
Anunoby was upgraded to questionable Saturday evening after being sidelined since Game 2 with a strained hamstring. Wojnarowski previously reported that Anunoby was likely to miss Game 7, so his change in status came as a surprise.
Peter Botte of The New York Post notes that Anunoby has been considered day-to-day since suffering the injury 10 days ago. He hasn’t spoken to the media during that time, and coach Tom Thibodeau has been guarded in the information he has released, which includes telling reporters that Anunoby resumed “light workouts” prior to Game 5.
Botte points out that Anunoby, who is Leon Rose‘s most significant acquisition since taking over as team president, has been beset by injuries at inopportune times during his career. He averaged about 59 games per season during his last five years in Toronto and missed the team’s 2019 championship run after undergoing an appendectomy.
The Knicks have been a much better team with Anunoby in the lineup since he was acquired in a late-December trade. Including the playoffs, New York is 26-5 when Anunoby has played, which Botte notes would translate to 69 wins over a full season.
Hart, who has rarely left the court throughout the postseason, suffered an abdominal strain in Friday’s Game 6 while pursuing a rebound. He doubled over in pain after the play, and although he was able to return to the game, he was frequently clutching his stomach area.
The Knicks, who are hosting their first game 7 since 1995, are hoping to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000.
It’s painful to watch Knicks games
I did not watch the whole games of Celtics first and second rounds
Terrible games
Painful to watch the games? You’ve got to be kidding.
Cool. Then continue to not watch them.
Two years ago
With Luka Doncic and Brunson, Mavs were knocked out by Warriors
1:4
Only 1:4
Neither team has the same rotation players so what happened 2 years ago has nothing on this year’s WCF.
Just let him word vomit into the void. Nothing anyone can say makes a difference.
I don’t know about Hart, but rushing things with Anunoby could mean losing him for the whole conference finals (in case NY advances). NY has shown they could beat Indiana at home without OG, if he’s not 100% (and all suggests he isn’t), he shouldn’t play.
If Hart were 50%
Without OG, Knicks will be blown out
Yeah, I wouldn’t start him myself. Maybe you throw him out there if things aren’t going well, but at home vs a Pacers team that has been underwhelming on the road I’d take my chances.
At the same time, I understand wanting to maintain continuity while putting your best foot forward in a Game 7. So if the Knicks do want to start OG, I’d keep his minutes lower in the first half and go from there.
Of course, because this is Thibs we’re talking about, we can safely expect OG to play a ton of minutes no matter the context.
Visual Concepts should partner with HSS to come up with a medical version of 2k. That way, medical professionals will also get the benefit of 2k’er wisdom before doing their jobs recklessly as they tend to do. Why should only coaches get this benefit? Time to share the wealth.
IF OG is healthy enough to play that will give the Knicks a big advantage. pacer players need to know that Knicks will get the home town calls in game 7 so don’t let the refs mess with their heads and stay focused.
Just hope he’s right. Both of them. I think Hart can go, even at 75%. But with OG you have to be extra careful. Gotta trust the medical and trainers. Rather win it without OG. And have him for Boston.
Hey Knicks fans – enjoy paying OG max money for 50-60 games a season, and always missing the games that matter most – even when he’s playing..: