The New York Knicks will be without OG Anunoby for an extended stretch after he suffered a left hamstring strain during the 140-132 win over the Miami Heat on Friday.
Anunoby, according to league sources via The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III, will be re-evaluated in two weeks, according to league sources, and will not travel on the team’s upcoming five-game road trip.
Assuming the two weeks is the absolute minimum span of time OG misses, that’d already bring us to Nov. 30 and the game against the Toronto Raptors scheduled for that Sunday. The Knicks will then face the Boston Celtics on the road on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Anunoby was injured with 6:52 remaining in the first quarter as he attempted a layup and came down, grabbing his hamstring. He headed to the bench in discomfort and was ruled out shortly after reaching the locker room.
As is always the case with reevaluations, it’s fair to assume that the Knicks will only provide an update in two weeks, not bring him back immediately after that timeline is completed.
OG’s injury history only adds to the concern. During the 2024 playoffs, Anunoby injured the same left hamstring in the second round against the Indiana Pacers, and the shorthanded Knicks went on to lose the series. Last season, Anunoby played more than 70 games for the first time since his rookie year in 2017-18, seemingly moving past his earlier durability issues—not so fast, pals!
Truth be told and in all seriousness, this is awful news for the Knicks and, more than anyone, to Anunoby. OG had been playing at an All-Star level through New York’s first 12 games, averaging 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 dimes, and a career-best 1.9 steals while shooting 39.2 percent from three and 47.6 percent from the field.
Anunoby’s absence comes just one game after Jalen Brunson suffered a grade-1 right ankle sprain late in a loss to the Orlando Magic, making it two out of five starters getting sidelined in back-to-back games.
The Knicks begin their road trip on Monday with a rematch against Miami, followed by games against the Dallas Mavericks, the Orlando Magic, the Brooklyn Nets, and finally an NBA Cup matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 26.
New York is sitting second in the Eastern Conference with an 8-4 record and trailing only the Detroit Pistons (11-2) entering Sunday.