Knicks go up 2-0, but OG Anunoby’s health is now the story everyone is worried about

The New York Knicks are rolling. Two games in, two wins. After taking down the Philadelphia 76ers 108-102 last night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks have a stranglehold on this second round series. But the final score doesn’t tell the whole story – not even close.

Going in, a lot of people figured this one might be trickier than game 1, and that’s exactly what happened. The Sixers, without Joel Embiid this time (ankle and hip injuries keeping him sidelined), came out looking like an entirely different squad compared to what we saw in game 1. Hungry, physical, and competitive from the opening tip. This wasn’t the same pushover Philadelphia team that some expected without their star big man.

And the numbers back that up. Twenty-five lead changes. Fourteen ties. And neither team was ever able to build a lead bigger than seven points. This was a grind, a real playoff game, and for long stretches it felt like it could go either way.

The moment that defined the game

With 6:52 left on the clock, Kelly Oubre drained a three pointer to give the Sixers a 99-96 lead. At that point, Madison Square Garden was still a little tense. But from that moment forward, Philadelphia managed just three points in nearly six minutes of basketball – a single free throw and a layup with about a minute remaining. They went completely cold, couldn’t buy a bucket, and that’s when the Knicks pounced.

A 12-3 run to close it out. It started with Josh Hart, who knocked down a three off a beautiful assist from OG Anunoby. Then it was all Jalen Brunson, who knocked down two consecutive shots to push the lead. Mikal Bridges added two more with a 20-foot step-back jumper, and that was pretty much it. Tyrese Maxey, as good as he was for stretches, couldn’t save the Sixers down the stretch when they needed it most.

The good guys

Brunson finished with 26 points and was once again the engine that made everything work – even if he took his sweet time getting going. His first field goal didn’t come until ten minutes into the game, which isn’t exactly the start you draw up. But once he got going, he got going. He scored 8 of the team’s last 15 points, including those two huge back-to-back buckets when the Knicks needed someone to step up and take over. That’s what franchise players do.

Anunoby put up 24 points and was terrific before the moment that put a cloud over the whole night – but more on that in a second.

Karl-Anthony Towns had himself a steady, productive evening with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He didn’t dominate in the first half due to foul trouble came up big in the second, and in a game this tight, that kind of reliability matters.

And then there’s Mikal Bridges, who deserves a real shoutout after the way this series started against the Hawks. He struggled in those early games – on both ends – but last night he flipped the switch completely. On offense, he was efficient and effective, shooting 9-for-13 and finishing with 18 points and 5 rebounds. On defense, he was assigned to slow down Maxey, and that’s exactly what he did. Maxey dropped 19 points in the first half and then managed just 7 in the second. That’s not a coincidence – that’s Bridges locking in and doing what he’s capable of doing when he’s dialed in.

The Sixers showed something

On the Philadelphia side, Maxey led everyone with 26 points, but the second half struggles hurt. Oubre and Paul George both finished with 19 points each, and the young VJ Edgecombe chipped in 17 – which, frankly, is something to keep an eye on going forward. The Sixers don’t have Embiid, but they’re not just rolling over. This team has some fight in them, and that matters as this series moves to Philly.

The thing nobody wants to think about

Now, the part that’s sitting heavy with every Knicks fan this morning. With 3:03 remaining in the game, Anunoby went up strong for a dunk. Paul George got a piece of it, and when OG came back down to the floor, something wasn’t right. He immediately signaled to the bench to be replaced. He walked off and headed straight to the locker room. No official update has come out yet, but the word being tossed around is a suspected hamstring injury.

Anybody who’s been watching this team for the last few years felt their stomach drop at that word. Hamstring. Two years ago, the Knicks took a 2-0 series lead on the Indiana Pacers, and then OG Anunoby went down with a hamstring injury. They never recovered. Lost the series in seven games. The memory is still fresh, and right now, the entire fan base is holding its breath waiting to hear what the scans say.

Hopefully it’s nothing serious. The Knicks can’t afford to lose him – not with the way this series could develop and certainly not with what’s potentially waiting for them beyond it.

What’s next

Game 3 is on Friday at 7:00 PM at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The Sixers will have their crowd behind them, and after how competitive they were last night, don’t expect them to go quietly. But right now, the bigger question isn’t about the game plan. It’s about whether OG Anunoby will be on the floor for it.