Knicks to Rest Key Players as Playoffs Approach

NEW YORK, NY — As the NBA regular season approaches its conclusion, the New York Knicks have decided to rest three key players ahead of their Thursday matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Coach Tom Thibodeau announced that OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson will not participate in the game, allowing them to recuperate before the playoffs begin.

This decision comes after the Knicks, currently holding a 50-29 record, secured a solid postseason position, needing just one more victory or one Indiana Pacers loss to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks plan to use this game as a precautionary measure to ensure their players are healthy and ready for the playoffs.

Anunoby, who has been dealing with a right thumb sprain, has seen an uptick in minutes recently, playing 41 minutes in a game before the announcement. Hart, suffering from right knee patellofemoral syndrome, has been logging heavy minutes on the court, currently leading the NBA with an average of 37.7 minutes per game. Robinson, recovering from left ankle surgery, will also sit out as a part of injury management.

This choice to rest players comes as a shock for many observers, as Thibodeau has been known for his inclination to keep players in heavy rotation. However, with the Knicks’ playoff run nearing, prioritizing player health is crucial. “Each game he’s getting better and better, but the playoffs will be here shortly. So there’s urgency to this,” Thibodeau remarked on Brunson’s ongoing recovery from an ankle injury.

Despite the risks associated with resting key players, the Knicks enter this stretch fully healthy. They are 1-2 against Detroit this season; the Pistons have bested the Knicks in two previous meetings at Madison Square Garden after New York secured a commanding 30-point victory in their initial face-off in November. Cade Cunningham has been a standout player for Detroit in their victories, having posted a triple-double and significant point totals in their matches this season.

While the Knicks do not stand to gain much from the upcoming matchup—scheduled just ahead of a road-back home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers—Thibodeau suggested that the team would be required to manage player minutes wisely. The Knicks’ recent performance reveals they have struggled against teams with winning records, going 3-17 in such matchups this season.

Setting sights on the future, the Knicks view this game as a tune-up for the postseason. “It will just be used as a tuneup for the postseason,” the team noted in a press release. The roster changes allow Thibodeau to evaluate bench players and fringe rotation candidates, who will need to prove their worth as the postseason approaches. With crucial playoff battles looming, maintaining player health and building momentum through solid performances will be essential for success.