The Knicks are not getting Julius Randle back for the postseason, but they have OG Anunoby back in the fold, which provides a considerable silver lining for the final four games of the regular season.
New York’s 3-and-D specialist returned to the lineup over the weekend after dealing with tennis elbow which sidelined him for nine games. This came after loose bodies had to be surgically removed from that same elbow, which initially held him out for 18 straight games.
For now, the final games of the regular season are an opportunity for him to ease into what will be a rigorous postseason. Following a 122-109 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, the Knicks hold the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, tied for third with the Orlando Magic but behind on tiebreakers but just one half-game ahead of the fifth-place Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I definitely wanted to play some games before the playoffs started,” Anunoby said on Friday (h/t Kristian Winfield, Daily News). “I never want to just miss games.”
Having Anunoby in any sort of capacity is a winning formula for the Knicks. Despite losing Friday’s matchup with the Chicago Bulls, New York is still an impeccable 15-3 when Anunoby dresses. According to Statmuse, the Knicks are a +302 when he’s on the floor.
In the 28 games without him, they were 13-15.
“Maybe less shooting. Building up the shooting, not just going back to shooting like I normally shoot,” Anunoby said. “So just taking my time and it’s going to get better and better.”
He has done just that in his first two games back, taking eight shots on Friday against Chicago and 10 on Sunday against Milwaukee.
