Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau remained vague about the status of injured forward OG Anunoby, who was sidelined again Sunday after being cleared to resume practice last week.
Anunoby has missed 18 consecutive games since he last played on Jan. 27 due to a right elbow injury that required surgery.
Before Sunday’s loss to the 76ers, Thibodeau was asked if there was anything Anunoby needed to be examined by the medical staff to be cleared to play again, and Thibodeau flatly answered “no.”
The Knicks play the Sixers again at home on Tuesday night and begin a four-game Western swing Thursday night in Portland.
Thibodeau said Anunoby and missed big men Julius Randle (shoulder) and Mitchell Robinson are “able to travel,” adding, “We hope OG can get tested and play.” Ta.
Isaiah Hartenstein appeared to have possibly reinjured his hip when he left the bench to head to the locker room with five minutes left in the third quarter, but said after the game that he was “fine.” He returned to the bench and returned to the game with 4:46 left in the fourth inning.
The Knicks have been monitoring Hartenstein’s playing time since he missed multiple games in mid-February with recurrent Achilles tendon pain.
“No, I’m fine,” said Hartenstein, who played 24 minutes. “I warm up in the back. It’s okay. It’s the usual rotation. I don’t get hurt every time I go to the back. …Now I’ll wave to everyone.”
Shake Milton hasn’t cracked Thibodeau’s rotation in three games since being signed as a free agent last week, playing just one minute in garbage time Friday night against Orlando.
“Just stay fit and ready. Mid-season trades are hard. You have to learn the system,” Thibodeau said. “But I like what I saw of him in terms of his demeanor and his approach. He was very, very good.”
Veteran guard Alec Burks had another quiet game, scoring five points on 1-of-3 shooting in 12 minutes.
