Knicks Struggle in Anunoby’s Return Against Cavaliers

CLEVELAND — The return of OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks lineup did not go as planned, as the forward struggled in a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 21, 2025. Anunoby, who missed the previous six games due to a sprained right foot, managed only five points in 27 minutes of play.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau anticipated a challenging comeback for Anunoby. “It was about what I thought it would be,” he said. “There were some good minutes early, and then there’s some rust he’s got to work through, but I thought he had good energy.”

In his first comments since his injury, Anunoby described a tense moment during the game when he slipped and held his foot. “Just a misstep,” he quickly stated, alleviating worries about his foot. He labeled his injury a “midfoot sprain” after ESPN reported it as a toe injury. “Felt good to get back,” Anunoby added. “Feeling better and better as the season goes on.”

Prior to his return, Anunoby last played on February 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers, where he sustained a non-contact injury after LeBron James closed out on him at the 3-point line. In Anunoby’s absence, the Knicks fared surprisingly well, compiling a record of 5-1, showcasing their ability to compete without their leading defender.

While the Knicks welcomed back Anunoby, they were still without center Mitchell Robinson, who is recovering from ankle surgery. A league source indicated Robinson would also miss a Sunday matchup against the Boston Celtics. Robinson has not played since April but was cleared for full-contact practice earlier this week.

The Knicks, currently lacking frontcourt depth, did not make any trades at the deadline to address this need, relying on rookie Ariel Hukporti as the backup center. Thibodeau praised Hukporti’s energy, stating, “Just his energy is what I like. There’s always going to be a learning part to what he does. I’d rather have a guy have the energy than try to wind a guy up.”

BOSTON — With the Knicks facing another crucial matchup against the Celtics, coach Tom Thibodeau discussed the minutes distribution for his starters, particularly their wings, which are above the NBA norm. He acknowledged the need for strong lineups on both sides of the ball and questioned whether his players could handle the increased minutes.

“There’s different minutes in the course of the game,” Thibodeau said. “OG [Anunoby] is at 36 minutes. Mikal [Bridges] is the highest, and Josh [Hart’s] are high as well. Both of those guys can handle minutes, and they want the minutes. If they can handle the minutes, give it to them.”

The Knicks’ reliance on their starters is notable compared to the Cavaliers, who average lower minutes for their players. The Knicks’ starters are averaging at least 34.9 minutes, with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns having minutes on par with other All-Stars.

However, Thibodeau and the Knicks will need to navigate their heavy workload amidst injuries that could hamper their playoff aspirations. “Whatever the strengths of the club are,” Thibodeau said, “you want to give your team the best chance to win.”