The New York Knicks got a big win last night, but the mood inside Madison Square Garden was quickly tempered by a serious health issue involving one of their most important players.
Knicks forward OG Anunoby seemed to hurt his right leg late in the fourth quarter of the team’s 108-102 Game 2 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
What’s Happened?
Anunoby went to cut to the basket on an offensive play, but he looked like he had injured his right hamstring and was limping. He bobbed around for a bit and then motioned to the bench that he wanted to be substituted.
Anunoby cut and collected a Josh Hart pass and went up for a two-handed dunk on the cut, but Paul George met him at the basket. Hit the possession with a midrange jumper to put the Knicks up 105-99, and Anunoby was clearly wobbling back down the floor on defence.
McBride, a guard, replaced him with 2:31 to go, and Rose did not return.
Mike Brown’s Response
The post-game news conference didn’t assist. On injuries, Knicks coach Mike Brown said he had not spoken to the team’s medical staff and had no information. “I haven’t spoken to anybody, and it’s the same thing,” Brown said at a live-streamed press conference. He seemed like he was bouncing. Haven’t spoken to medical yet.
The Knicks P.R. also told the Post after the game that they had no update on Anunoby’s status.
How Big a Deal is Anunoby for the Knicks?
The injury could not have come at a worse time. Anunoby had 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting, five rebounds, four steals, two assists, one block, and no turnovers, but the late exit marred a promising night. He played 37 minutes in a six-point win, and the Knicks outscored the Sixers by 12 in those minutes.
His total postseason numbers leading into Game 2 were unbelievable. In the playoffs, Anunoby averaged 21 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 34.9 minutes per game while shooting a blazing 63.8% from the field and 59.4% from 3-point range on 4.6 attempts per game.
Anunoby has played 282 minutes this postseason, outscoring opponents by 118 points, along with teammate Jalen Brunson, for the best plus-minus of any player in the 2026 playoffs.
What’s at Stake
The Knicks’ medical staff is now in a race against time to assess his right leg as the series moves to Philadelphia for Game 3. According to their sources, Mike Brown will have to determine whether his team’s greatest defensive weapon is able to suit up, or the club will need to go without him to protect New York’s hard-earned series advantage.
For now, Anunoby is labelled as questionable for Friday’s Game 3 in Philadelphia.
His capacity to guard several areas has been the basis of the Knicks’ postseason identity. Losing him, even for a short period, would be a crippling blow to New York’s aspirations of a deep run in the 2026 playoffs.
Source:
- Yahoo Sports — Knicks offer no update on OG Anunoby injury
- ESPN — Knicks’ OG Anunoby exits Game 2 late with apparent leg injury
- Heavy — OG Anunoby Leg Injury Update Clouds Knicks’ Win Over Sixers
- RotoWire — OG Anunoby Injury: Exits game with leg issue
- Yardbarker — ‘He Was Hopping’: Mike Brown Shares Update on OG Anunoby’s Injury
- College Sports Network — Latest Injury Update After Knicks Star Exits Game 2
