OG Anunoby’s absence is no longer day-to-day, which only casts a larger shadow on the New York Knicks’ red-hot run of late.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday that Anunoby underwent surgery to remove a loose bone fragment in his right elbow which will keep him sidelined for at least three weeks.
Anunoby had missed the previous five games for what head coach Tom Thibodeau described as elbow inflammation that was initially prescribed that day-to-day timetable.
Per Wojnarowski, the organization hoped that rest would rectify the situation on its own. However, it became increasingly clear that a procedure was needed to ensure that he would be able to play without issue for the team’s stretch run before the playoffs.
The 26-year-old swingman had been a remarkable spark plug for the Knicks upon his acquisition from the Toronto Raptors in late December. He provided an unmatched 3-and-D presence, averaging 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game on 39.1% shooting from three-point range.
When he was in the lineup, the Knicks were 12-2 as a part of a remarkable run that saw them go 14-2 in January — their most wins in a single month since 1994 — and 16-3 in their last 19 games.
He now joins Julius Randle on the elongated injury shelf — New York’s star power forward dislocated his shoulder during the Knicks’ Jan. 27 victory over the Miami Heat which will keep him out for at least another two weeks.
In Anunoby’s absence, the newly acquired Bojan Bogdanovic should get plenty of playing time. The 34-year-old sharpshooter capable of playing both the 3 and 4 was acquired from the Detroit Pistons on Thursday afternoon shortly before the NBA trade deadline.
