'Injury Forces OG Anunoby of Knicks to Exit Defeat Against Lakers with Foot Sprain'
New York Knicks power forward OG Anunoby departed from Saturday night's defeat against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers after experiencing a sprained right foot early in the third quarter.
Anunoby, who was open on the side, received a pass from Jalen Brunson but winced and fell to his left knee upon planting his foot just beyond the 3-point line. He held onto his lower right leg and passed the ball back to Brunson as LeBron James, who was closing in on Anunoby, assisted him to his feet.
Coach Tom Thibodeau stated after the game that the initial X-rays on Anunoby's foot were negative. He also mentioned that he was unsure if Anunoby would undergo an MRI examination.
Anunoby walked unassisted to the locker room. The Knicks later announced in the third quarter that he would not return to the game.
Anunoby, who recorded 13 points and two blocks in nearly 17 minutes, has been a starter for all 49 games this season. The Knicks currently hold the third spot in the Eastern Conference and had their five-game winning streak snapped on Saturday.
Anunoby is averaging 16.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game and is widely regarded as New York's top defender.
Including the playoffs from last season, the Knicks had a record of 26-6 with Anunoby in the lineup after acquiring him from the Toronto Raptors on December 30, 2023. However, they went 14-17 when he was out due to elbow and hamstring injuries.
The Knicks won the first two games of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers with Anunoby, but he missed the following four games due to a strained left hamstring. He only played for four minutes and some change in a 130-109 loss in Game 7.
