As expected, the Knicks’ injury situation got even worse.
OG Anunoby has strained his hamstring and will miss Friday’s Game 3 against the Pacers, the team announced.
The small forward was in the midst of his best playoff performance with the Knicks when he went lame late in the third quarter of Wednesday’s win over MSG.
He grabbed his hamstring and limped to the locker room with 28 points left and never returned.
The forward is the team’s most important defensive player, but he missed 27 games this season with an elbow injury.
His absence will be difficult for the Knicks, who are facing a serious talent shortage.
Three regular rotation players will not play in the playoffs: Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic.
The most logical option would be to move Precious Achiuwa to starting power forward and Jericho Sims to backup center.
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The Knicks could move Josh Hart to power forward and start Miles McBride, as the Pacers aren’t much of a threat in the paint or on the glass.
Anunoby served as Indiana’s Pascal Siakam’s primary defender in Games 1 and 2.
Either way, Hart understands his role.
“I just play 48 minutes,” he said.
The Knicks, who are two wins away from the franchise’s first conference finals since 2000, are 26-5 with Anunoby in the lineup.
There is no timetable for his recovery, and hamstring strains are often unexpected injuries.
Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson has soreness in his foot and is “questionable,” the Knicks said.
Brunson appeared to be injured in the first quarter Wednesday.
He returned after halftime and led the Knicks to their latest thrilling victory.
