Starting Knicks forward OG Anunoby sustained a left hamstring strain in Friday’s win over the Miami Heat and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, league sources told the Daily News.
The two-way forward will not travel with the Knicks on their upcoming three-game road trip to Miami, Dallas and Orlando.
Anunoby suffered the injury five minutes into Friday’s game — the same hamstring he strained in Game 2 of the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers. That setback sidelined him for Games 3–6 before a brief, limited return in the Knicks’ elimination Game 7.
The timing compounds New York’s early-season injury issues. The Knicks already lost Jalen Brunson to a sprained ankle in Wednesday’s defeat to Orlando. Brunson exited MSG in a walking boot and on crutches but has since begun walking independently and will travel with the team.
Anunoby had been thriving in Mike Brown’s first season at the helm, flashing some of the most aggressive scoring of his career. He scored 19 or more points in five of 11 games, is attempting 6.6 threes per game (tied for a career high), and is posting averages of 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds (career high), 1.9 steals (career high) and 39.2% from deep.
“OG’s an all-star in my opinion. Not only is he an All-Star. He’s an All-Defensive performer,” head coach Brown said on Nov. 11. “He should have an opportunity amongst others in our group to fight for defensive player of the year in the league.”
With Anunoby sidelined, Brown is expected to lean more heavily on Landry Shamet, who erupted for 30 points in the second half of Friday’s victory over Miami. Shamet has already made three spot starts this season and is averaging 10 points on nearly 45% shooting from three.
Though Anunoby will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the 14-day mark is only the first checkpoint. His absence could extend beyond that window depending on how the hamstring responds to treatment.
Anunoby will miss a minimum of seven games during his recovery. He missed only eight contests last season but was sidelined 30-plus games in three of the previous four years, making his health a recurring storyline for a Knicks team now down two starters.
