The New York Knicks’ pursuit of a perfect homestand ended Saturday night.
They can only hope OG Anunoby’s early exit didn’t cloud their long-term aspirations.
New York may be without its starting forward Monday night when it concludes a five game-homestand against the Houston Rockets in a battle of potential NBA title contenders. Anunoby was listed as questionable because of a right foot sprain on Sunday’s injury report, while teammate Josh Hart has the same status because of right knee soreness.
Both teams were off Sunday after losing at home Saturday night. The Knicks fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 128-112 and the Rockets were upset by the Brooklyn Nets 110-98.
The end of New York’s five-game winning streak was overshadowed by Anunoby’s departure. He took a pass from Jalen Brunson on the wing but grimaced and went to his left knee after planting his right foot just beyond the 3-point line. He exited the game with 10:38 left in the third quarter and New York trailing 62-57.
Anunoby walked without assistance to the locker room and underwent X-rays, which were negative. He finished with 13 points and two blocks in 16-plus minutes Saturday and is averaging 16.4 points and 4.7 rebounds while playing all 49 games so far this season.
The ninth-year veteran is also considered as the best defender on the Knicks, who entered Sunday in third place in the Eastern Conference, two games behind second-place Boston.
Counting the playoffs last season, New York is 58-23 with Anunoby in the lineup and 14-17 without him since he was acquired from the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 30, 2023.
The Knicks won the first two games of their Eastern Conference semifinal series last spring against the Indiana Pacers with Anunoby, who missed the next four games with a strained left hamstring and was limited to four-plus minutes in a 130-109 Game 7 loss.
“I know as much as you guys know,” Brunson said. “He’s huge for our team so we’re going to pray.”
Houston may also take the court with something less than its optimal lineup Monday night. The Rockets have lost two straight games without All-Star center Alperen Sengun, who suffered a left calf contusion in Tuesday night’s 100-96 win over the Atlanta Hawks. He is listed as questionable for Monday’s game.
Houston also lost point guard Fred VanVleet to a right ankle strain during the second quarter Saturday. The Rockets trailed 39-32 when VanVleet was hurt and were outscored 14-6 the remainder of the first half. They fell behind by as many as 22 points in the third quarter against the Nets, who won for just the fifth time in 20 games since Christmas. VanVleet was ruled out for Monday’s contest.
Coach Ime Udoka didn’t want to use the injuries as an excuse for Houston’s most lopsided defeat since Jan. 3, when the Rockets suffered a 109-86 loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics.
“You’ve got to have a certain number of guys come to play with some intensity and some want, desire every night,” Udoka said. “When you don’t, that’s the result.”
Houston has missed the playoffs four straight times but entered Sunday tied for second place in the Western Conference with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Rockets have yet to lose three straight games this season.
