OG Anunoby Injury: Knicks Urged to Target Game 5 Return

The New York Knicks have not yet made a public decision on OG Anunoby’s next-game status, but ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith already has a clear recommendation: do not rush him back.

Anunoby exited the Knicks’ 108-102 Game 2 win over the Philadelphia 76ers with an apparent leg injury, creating the first real health scare of New York’s second-round series. The Knicks lead the series 2-0, with Game 3 set for Friday, May 8, and Game 4 set for Sunday, May 10, both in Philadelphia. Game 5, if necessary, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, at Madison Square Garden.

Smith, on May 7’s edition of First Take, argued that the Knicks’ current cushion gives them a rare chance to prioritize the bigger picture.

“The Knicks can afford to be without OG for the next two games,” Smith said. “Don’t bring him back before Game 5. Give him that rest. Give him the rest of the week. Let’s see how it goes.”

That is not the same as saying Anunoby is out for Games 3 and 4. The Knicks have not announced that. But Smith’s point gets to the tension the Knicks are now facing: Anunoby is one of their most important two-way players, and the schedule gives New York a short window to decide whether the immediate risk is worth it.

OG Anunoby Injury Update: Stephen A. Smith Urged the Knicks to Give OG Anunoby Two Games Off Before Game 5

Smith’s argument is rooted in the Knicks’ series position as much as Anunoby’s importance.

The Knicks are not trying to survive from a 1-1 tie. They are not trying to avoid a 0-3 hole. They are up 2-0 after defending home court, and the 76ers are the team that now has to change the series.

That matters because Anunoby’s value is not limited to one playoff game. New York needs him for elite wing defense, transition scoring, corner shooting and lineup flexibility. He gives the Knicks another defender they can trust in late-game matchups, and he has been an essential part of their playoff formula.

Before leaving Game 2, Anunoby had 24 points, five rebounds and four steals, according to the New York Post. That production made the injury scare even more significant because he was not simply filling a role. He was one of the Knicks’ best players on the floor.

The counterargument is obvious: playoff games are too valuable to concede. Philadelphia has Game 3 and Game 4 at home, and a series can change quickly if the Knicks lose their defensive edge on the wing.

But Smith’s Game 5 target gives the Knicks a middle path. Resting Anunoby through the weekend would give him several days away from game action while still leaving open the possibility of a return at home if the series tightens.

It also avoids the worst-case scenario for a team in control: bringing back a key player too early, watching him aggravate the issue and losing him for longer.

The Knicks Have Not Released an NBA Injury Report Yet

As of Smith’s comment, the Knicks had not yet released their official NBA injury report for Game 3.

Because Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, May 8, in Philadelphia, the NBA’s standard injury-report policy requires teams to designate a player’s status by 5 p.m. local time the day before the game, unless it is the second game of a back-to-back. The league also requires a game-day injury report between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. local time for most games. Reports are then updated throughout the day.

That means the first official Knicks designation for Anunoby ahead of Game 3 should be expected by Thursday, May 7, at 5 p.m. ET. A more complete game-day picture should come Friday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET, with additional updates possible before the 7 p.m. ET tipoff.

Until then, anything beyond Anunoby leaving Game 2 and the Knicks evaluating him is not official.

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