The New York Knicks ruled out forward OG Anunoby for the remainder of Saturday’s 128-112 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Lakers after he exited in the third quarter with a right foot sprain.
Anunoby sustained the injury on a transition play when he caught the ball at the three-point line and appeared to plant his right foot awkwardly, causing him to stumble without any contact. Head coach Tom Thibodeau immediately called a timeout, both to allow Anunoby a chance to recover and to retain possession for the Knicks.
A hush fell over Madison Square Garden as Anunoby remained on the floor, with teammate Karl-Anthony Towns quickly checking on him.
Earlier in the game, Anunoby had left the Knicks’ bench for an extended period during the second quarter before returning from the tunnel just before halftime. He did not play in the final six minutes of the half while the team’s medical staff evaluated him, according to Thibodeau.
“He went to get checked for something at the end of the half,” Thibodeau said after the game, adding that X-rays were taken and came back negative. He was uncertain whether an MRI had been performed yet.
Anunoby, 27, has battled injuries in recent seasons, including a hamstring issue in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals. He hasn’t played more than 70 games in a season since his rookie year in 2017-18. After being acquired by the Knicks via trade last season, he made an immediate impact and signed a five-year, $212 million contract extension in the offseason. With him in the lineup since the start of the 2023-24 campaign, the Knicks have posted a 52-19 record, compared to 30-29 without him.
“We’re obviously praying for the best, but I know as much as you guys do right now,” said All-Star guard Jalen Brunson. “He’s huge for our team, so we’re just hoping for good news.”
If Anunoby misses significant time, it would add further strain to an already overworked Knicks starting lineup. Entering Saturday’s game, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Anunoby ranked first, second, and third in the league in total minutes played, while Brunson ranked sixth.
