Injury Concern After Key Win
The New York Knicks secured a hard-fought 108-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2, but the triumph was overshadowed by an injury to forward OG Anunoby. The veteran appeared to sustain a right leg injury in the final minutes of the fourth quarter while making a cut toward the basket.
Anunoby reached for the back of his leg shortly after receiving a pass from teammate Josh Hart and attempting a dunk, which was blocked by Paul George. Despite the pain, he remained on the floor for a few moments before clearly hobbling during a defensive transition. He eventually signaled to the bench and was replaced by Miles “Deuce” McBride with just over two minutes remaining. Anunoby headed directly to the locker room and did not return to the game.
Coach Brown Provides No Immediate Update
Following the conclusion of the contest, Knicks head coach Mike Brown indicated that he had no immediate information regarding the severity of the injury or Anunoby's status for future games. “I haven’t talked to anybody,” Brown stated. “They didn’t say anything. He looked like he was hopping.” When questioned further about the medical staff's feedback, the coach reiterated that he remained in the dark, noting that he had not yet consulted with the training team.
Anunoby’s Impact on the Postseason
The injury cut short an impressive performance from Anunoby, who had recorded 24 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists in 37 minutes. His presence on the court was vital; the Knicks outscored the 76ers by 12 points while he was active. His contributions throughout the 2026 playoffs have been significant, with the team outscoring opponents by 118 points during his time on the floor—a figure that ties him with teammate Jalen Brunson for the highest plus-minus in the current postseason.
Discussing Anunoby's versatility, Brown remarked before the game: “At that size and athleticism and IQ, feel, two-way player — you want a guy like OG on your team. He’s the ultimate definition of sacrifice, where you just go and do your job as best you can to try to help the team win.”
Preparing for Uncertainty
As the series prepares to move to Philadelphia for Game 3, the potential absence of such a key contributor weighs heavily on the team. While stars like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns stated they would address the situation as more information becomes available, the locker room is already bracing for the challenge of playing without him.
“He’s one of the best two-way players in the league, so it’s tough to replace that,” teammate Miles McBride noted after the game. “But you don’t replace him with one guy. Everyone is going to have to step up.”