Knicks' OG Anunoby aggravates elbow injury during pregame warmups, sits against Hornets
Knicks forward OG Anunoby looks on against the Miami Heat in the first half at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Knicks' injury troubles continued on Monday as they announced shortly before game time that OG Anunoby was suffering from right elbow inflammation.
According to the team, he aggravated the injury during pregame warmups and was scratched.
“He warmed up and just didn’t feel comfortable,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “So we’ll see where he is tomorrow. He’s had it before but it was one of those things that flared up. If he can’t play, he can’t play. Next guy gets in there and get it done… I think it’s going to be day to day. It’s inflammation. So we’ll see where it is tomorrow. He went through shootaround. He was planning on playing. It was a late scratch.”
Anunoby, who was sidelined because of injury for the first time since the Knicks acquired him on Dec. 30, has been a huge part of their success. They entered Monday with a 12-2 record since Jan. 1. Anunoby missed four games with Toronto earlier this season and one game while traveling when he was traded.
While he was out of this game, Anunoby figures to have an increased role — minutes and scoring — with Julius Randle out for at least multiple weeks.
“It’s weird because you don’t label our team as 1, 2 and 3 options,” Donte DiVincenzo said. “I think the way we play is way different than teams I’ve played for in the past... But we have so many different guys who can attack and our offense isn’t designed just to do one pick and roll shot. It’s designed to attack the rim, spray out, and play free flowing basketball.
"I think he [Anunoby] will probably have more play calls and stuff. But it’s not going to change his game. He’s not going to start doing isolation stuff and all that stuff. He’s just going to try to stay true to who he is and make the right play as a basketball player.”
Lowry in limbo
Kyle Lowry has not been with the Hornets since the trade that brought him from the Miami Heat, remaining in Miami and working out in preparation for a potential next move — a trade if the Hornets can swing one or a likely buyout of his contract if he is with the franchise past the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
“I think it’s pretty common,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “Kyle’s an older guy. To be honest, he wants to go to a team where they can win it. I’m sure those are the conversations that are probably being had right now. So, when they told me about the trade, I didn’t think that he wanted to come here. So I’m sure his agent is working on that stuff now.”
Lowry would be a difficult trade piece now. He is earning $29.6 million this season, a figure that is difficult for a team like the Knicks to match, even if they were able to move Evan Fournier’s $18.8 million deal. If Lowry does enter the buyout market, the Knicks could be interested as he fits their need for a steady point guard off the bench.
Fournier away
Evan Fournier was not with the team in Charlotte due to a personal reason.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
