CHICAGO — OG Anunoby is using the Knicks’ final five regular season games as a ramp-up for the playoffs. Anunoby underwent elbow surgery in early February then returned early before aggravating the right elbow again and leaving the rotation in mid-March. He came back and played sparingly in the Knicks’ 108-100 loss to the Bulls on Thursday, but the star forward said he wants to be in peak condition for New York’s postseason run. “Yeah, I definitely wanted to play some games before the playoffs started,” Anunoby said in front of his locker after Thursday’s loss. “I never want to just miss games.” Anunoby played 29 minutes and scored 12 points on five-of-eight
shooting from the field to go with two steals against the Bulls. He is expecting to play on a minutes restriction after playing an average of 35 minutes through his first 17 games in
New York. “Yeah, there was a minutes restriction tonight,” he said. “I don’t know how long it’ll be going on. [I’ll] just listen to medical.” The Knicks acquired Anunoby in the Dec. 30 deal sending Immanuel Quickley, R.J. Barrett and a second-round pick to the
Toronto Raptors . The Knicks immediately won 14 of their first 16 games following the deal. And then the elbow became a problem. Anunoby first discovered the inflammation on Jan. 29 ahead of tipoff against the Charlotte Hornets. After some time out of the rotation, the Knicks updated the star forward’s status from out with elbow inflammation to out with bone spur irritation. Doctors later discovered a loose bone fragment in Anunoby’s elbow, and he underwent a procedure in early February sidelining him for more than a month. Anunoby returned to the Knicks for a March 12 victory over the 76ers and played three games — all victories — before the inflammation resurfaced due to a series of normal
basketball plays putting pressure on the elbow. Anunoby’s flare-up hasn’t changed his approach much. He spent 20 days waiting for the inflammation to subside, strengthening his elbow and loosening it with a variety of movements. “Kind of the same thing. Maybe less shooting,” he said. “Building up the shooting, not just going back to shooting like I normally shoot. So just taking my time and it’s going to get better and better.” He believes his defense will come along sooner than his shooting, though he connected on two of his four attempts from downtown in the loss to the Bulls. “I think it’s all the same thing,” he said. “The more minutes, the longer stints, it comes back naturally.” The Knicks are happy to have their standout forward back in the rotation. They boasted a 15-2 record in games he played since arriving in the trade prior to Friday’s loss. “I’m happy he’s back, happy he’s healthy,” said All-Star guard Jalen Brunson . “Obviously, we didn’t win so it clouds my judgment right now, but just happy he’s healthy and out there.” Anunoby is averaging 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and a block per game since his trade to the Knicks. “He does a lot,” said starting center Isaiah Hartenstein . “He’s great defensively, can space the floor. Probably before he got hurt, he was the best defender in the NBA. So that brings a lot.”