SAN FRANCISCO — After OG Anunoby said he was “ready” to defend Steph Curry, the Knicks forward was ruled out of Monday’s game against the Warriors due to “injury management.”
Anunoby, who underwent surgery to remove a loose bone in his elbow in early February, played three games since returning but aggravated the area last week during a victory over the Trail Blazers.
Anunoby and the Knicks said “soreness” was anticipated, although they’ve dismissed the idea that he’d be sitting out games.
Then after being listed as questionable for the Warriors matchup, he was downgraded to “out” by Monday morning.
The Knicks had also labeled Anunoby “day to day” with elbow soreness before his surgery, not acknowledging publicly that there was a bone spur until he had missed games for over a week.
At best, they’ve been inconsistent with their public info.
“I just had surgery five weeks ago,” Anunoby said Saturday. “So it’s ice and strengthening. Just a lot of different exercises. Still repairing. Still getting better.…Just stuff in the weight room, stuff with bands, stuff with medicine balls. Just building up the strengths.”
Anunoby’s presence has been a major boost to the defense of the Knicks, who are 15-2 with him in the lineup.
But he shot 1-for-8 in Saturday’s win over the Kings and has looked uncomfortable with his release since the pain re-surfaced in Portland.
“It’s getting better,” Anunoby said in Sacramento.
Now without Anunoby, the Knicks will try to stop the NBA’s greatest all-time shooter.
