OG Anunoby injury: ESPN announcer says Knicks forward isn’t ‘close’ to return | Sporting News

The New York Knicks are incredibly short-handed
in their second round series vs. the Indiana Pacers, and it doesn’t sound like help is coming soon.

The Knicks are currently without Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Bojan Bogdaovic, and OG Anunoby, the latter of whom strained his hamstring
in the third quarter of Game 2. Anunoby has missed the last two games
, both of which the Pacers won to tie the series at 2-2.

The Knicks haven’t given an official update on Anunoby, but while speaking on “The Rich Eisen Show,” ESPN/ABC and MSG play-by-play announcer Mike Breen said he doesn’t believe Anunoby is “close” to returning.

“I don’t think it’s close right now,” Breen said. “He hasn’t done any on-court workout. He’s been doing pool work, he’s getting treatment 3-4 times a day, so they’re doing their best to get him in. But I don’t think he’s going to play tomorrow [Game 5], I’d be surprised if he played Friday [Game 6]. Maybe as you get towards the weekend there’s a chance, but right now, from what I’ve heard in the last previous couple of days, he’s not close.”

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau had also told reporters that Anunoby has not progressed to running yet.

Anunoby’s injury is especially ill-timed for the Knicks. The 26-year-old forward was in the midst of his best game of the playoffs in Game 2, scoring 28 points in 28 minutes to help the Knicks weather the temporary absence of Jalen Brunson.

Without Anunoby, the Knicks are not only missing their best defender, but an important secondary scorer and another big body to handle the Pacers’ size.

After a Game 4 blowout in Indianapolis
, many in the NBA world have questioned if the Knicks are too short-handed to survive the series. Perhaps if they can extend the series to a Game 7, there’s a chance Anunoby can play, as Breen alluded. Most likely, it seems the Knicks will have to forge on with the limited bodies they have left.