“There’s no way OG Anunoby can play tonight. … If you play him tonight, you’re risking losing him for the rest of the postseason.”
—@BannedMacMahon on OG Anunoby’s hamstring strain heading into Game 3 vs. the 76ers ✍️
Getty
Tim MacMahon rules out OG Anunoby for Knicks-76ers Game 3
The New York Knicks officially listed OG Anunoby as questionable for Friday’s Game 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers, but ESPN insider Tim MacMahon believes the star forward should not play after suffering a right hamstring strain in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Anunoby exited late in New York’s 108-102 win Wednesday night and underwent evaluation afterward. Multiple reports described the injury as a “very minor” hamstring strain, with Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reporting that Anunoby is considered day-to-day.
Still, MacMahon strongly pushed back against the idea that Anunoby could realistically return only two days after the injury.
“I mean, the guy strained his hamstring a couple nights ago and he’s questionable,” MacMahon said Thursday on ESPN’s “Get Up.” “I don’t know who they’re trying to fool. There’s no way OG Anunoby can play tonight. I mean, it’s ludicrous.”
“There’s no way OG Anunoby can play tonight. … If you play him tonight, you’re risking losing him for the rest of the postseason.”
—@BannedMacMahon on OG Anunoby’s hamstring strain heading into Game 3 vs. the 76ers ✍️
The Knicks enter Game 3 with a 2-0 series lead over Philadelphia, but Anunoby has been one of the team’s most important postseason contributors on both ends of the floor.
GettyNew York Knicks forward Og Anunoby
MacMahon referenced previous playoff examples involving hamstring injuries while explaining why he believes New York should avoid rushing Anunoby back into the lineup.
“We saw Aaron Gordon play last year on a strained hammy,” MacMahon said. “It was a Game 7. He didn’t play well.”
MacMahon also pointed to Anunoby’s own playoff history.
“We saw Anunoby a couple years ago come back after missing four games and try to go on a strained hamstring,” MacMahon said. “He dragged his leg around for five minutes, got absolutely torched.”
According to MacMahon, the Knicks should focus on protecting Anunoby for later in the postseason rather than forcing a quick return in Game 3.
“He can’t play,” MacMahon said. “The hope is he can be back maybe at some point later this series, maybe next series, because I do agree with Vince. They need OG Anunoby, and they need him at his best to get to the Finals.”
MacMahon added that attempting to play on Friday could create a larger risk.
“If you play him tonight, you’re risking losing him for the rest of the postseason,” he said.
Despite national skepticism, there has been optimism internally about the injury.
Bondy reported Thursday that the hamstring strain is considered “very, very minor.” SNY’s Ian Begley also reported there was optimism within the Knicks organization that Anunoby could return either in Game 3 or Game 4.
The forward has averaged 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game during the postseason while anchoring New York’s perimeter defense.
GettyNew York Knicks guard Miles McBride
If Anunoby is unable to play Friday night, Miles McBride appears positioned for a larger workload.
McBride closed Game 2 after Anunoby exited and has already started 15 games during the regular season. The Knicks have also performed well with McBride alongside Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
During the regular season, that lineup posted a plus-16.3 net rating across 123 minutes together, according to NBA.com.
Defensively, Anunoby’s absence would likely force several matchup adjustments.
Anunoby had primarily defended Paul George earlier in the series. Without him, Bridges would likely shift onto George while McBride takes the assignment against Tyrese Maxey.
Knicks coach Mike Brown praised Bridges’ defense after Game 2.
“If there is one player that I wanna make sure that I mention, it’s Mikal Bridges,” Brown said. “You’re not stopping Tyrese Maxey. Tyrese, he had a great game. He had 26 points. But Mikal tried to make him work, especially in the second half, for every point he got.”
McBride echoed those comments after the victory.
“It started with Mikal,” McBride said. “I feel like he’s just been great for us at the point of attack.”
Without Anunoby, New York may also need additional bench production from Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Jose Alvarado as the series shifts to Philadelphia.
The Knicks can take a commanding 3-0 series lead Friday night, but managing Anunoby’s health now appears to be one of the organization’s biggest postseason decisions.
Debayan Biswas Debayan Biswas is a sports writer at Heavy Sports covering NBA, NFL, Golf, and Soccer. His work has been syndicated on Yahoo Sports, Yardbarker, Flipboard, The Sun News, and The Olympian. Previously, he contributed to Athlon Sports, EssentiallySports, and PFSN. More about Debayan Biswas
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