Add The New York Post on Google OG Anunoby is back.
The Knicks’ best performer during their dominant postseason is officially active and starting Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden, returning Anunoby to action for the first time since injuring his hamstring 13 days prior.
Knicks forward Og Anunoby #8, during practice at the New York Knicks training facility. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Entering Tuesday, Anunoby had been a two-way force in the playoffs, averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and a team-best 1.9 steals, while shooting 61.9 percent from the field (a team-high 53.8 percent on 3-pointers).
Anunoby, whose hamstring injury two years ago played a large role in derailing the Knicks’ postseason run, was a full participant in recent practices and declared he was feeling better every day, while noting that the injury he suffered in Game 2 against the 76ers wasn’t as severe as the one that sidelined him two years ago against the Pacers.
The Knicks’ second-round sweep of the 76ers — combined with Cleveland’s seven-game series against the Pistons — gave the 28-year-old an unusually long time to rest and rehab, unlike when he rushed to return for Game 7 of the 2024 conference semifinals against Indiana and was removed after hobbling through five minutes.
It is unclear if Anunoby will be on a minutes restriction in Game 1.
The 6-foot-7 forward struggled in his most recent return from an injury, having missed four games with a right toenail avulsion before the All-Star break. Anunoby was uncharacteristically out of rhythm in his first game in 15 days — shooting 3-of-13 (1-of-8 3-pointers) for eight points with zero rebounds in 32 minutes — and also failed to contain Cade Cunningham, who put up 42 points and 13 assists in Detroit’s 15-point win despite largely being guarded by the Knicks’ top defender.
