The New York Knicks’ quest for a perfect homestand was halted on Saturday night, and they now face concerns about OG Anunoby’s health as they prepare to conclude their five-game homestand against the Houston Rockets on Monday night.
Anunoby’s availability is uncertain after he was listed as questionable with a right foot sprain on Sunday’s injury report. Teammate Josh Hart is also questionable due to right knee soreness.
Both teams had Sunday off after suffering home losses on Saturday. The Knicks fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 128-112, while the Rockets were upset by the Brooklyn Nets 110-98.
New York’s five-game winning streak came to an end, overshadowed by Anunoby’s exit. He grimaced after planting his right foot beyond the 3-point line and left the game with 10:38 remaining in the third quarter, with the Knicks trailing 62-57. Anunoby walked to the locker room without assistance and underwent X-rays, which were negative. He finished with 13 points and two blocks in 16 minutes and is averaging 16.4 points and 4.7 rebounds this season.
Anunoby is also considered the best defender on the Knicks, who entered Sunday in third place in the Eastern Conference, two games behind second-place Boston. Since acquiring Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors on December 30, 2023, the Knicks are 58-23 with him in the lineup and 14-17 without him, including the playoffs.
In last season’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks won the first two games with Anunoby, but he missed the next four games with a strained left hamstring and played only four minutes in a 130-109 Game 7 loss.
The Rockets may also be shorthanded on Monday. They have lost two straight games without All-Star center Alperen Sengun, who is questionable with a left calf contusion sustained in Tuesday night’s 100-96 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Point guard Fred VanVleet also left Saturday’s game with a right ankle strain and has been ruled out for Monday’s contest.
Houston coach Ime Udoka refused to use injuries as an excuse for the Rockets’ most lopsided defeat since January 3, when they lost 109-86 to the defending champion Boston Celtics.
The Rockets have missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons but entered Sunday tied for second place in the Western Conference with the Memphis Grizzlies. They have yet to lose three straight games this season.
The Knicks are hoping to bounce back from their recent loss and finish their homestand on a high note, while the Rockets aim to avoid a third consecutive defeat.
