The Knicks are trying to navigate a season riddled with injuries, and the upcoming NBA All-Star break provides a much-needed opportunity for recovery.
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) has already been ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, while OG Anunoby (foot/toe) remained questionable ahead of tipoff at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Knicks also listed Josh Hart as probable to play through right knee soreness, and Karl-Anthony Towns has been managing both a thumb sprain and recurring knee soreness throughout the season.
Factor in New York’s short rotation, which leans heavily on its starters, plus the physical toll Jalen Brunson endures every night as the primary offensive target, and it’s clear the Knicks are wearing down midway through the season.
That’s why Anunoby’s questionable designation is little more than a tactical decision. The Knicks never expected him to return before the All-Star break. The risk simply isn’t worth it.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has emphasized that he wants his team playing its best basketball at the end of the season — but that only happens if they’re at full strength. The cautious approach isn’t just smart — it’s necessary.
It’s also the only logical path forward for a team with heightened expectations following a summer of bold moves. The Knicks made their championship ambitions clear when they traded five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, then shocked the league by moving Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for Towns just before training camp in Charleston, S.C.
And for them to contend? They need to be healthy. The All-Star break gives the Knicks a chance to get healthy, while risking a re-injury just before the break could have ramifications down the road.
INCHING CLOSER
Thibodeau told reporters that both Anunoby and Robinson — who hasn’t played since sustaining a second stress fracture in his left ankle in May — participated in parts of practice on Monday.
“So steady progress,” Thibodeau said after practice at the team’s Tarrytown facility. “But still not ready.”
Tuesday’s game against the Pacers would mark Anunoby’s fourth consecutive absence with what the Knicks are calling a right foot sprain. However, ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported that the injury is more specifically a toe issue. If Anunoby also sits out Wednesday’s back-to-back against the Atlanta Hawks, he’ll have two and a half weeks to fully recover before the Knicks return from the break.
Robinson’s return, however, remains further out.
“Mitch, obviously he’s doing more and more each day,” Thibodeau said. “But he needs more time.”
That’s exactly what the Knicks will get — a full week off to heal up before the season’s second half.
LOOKING FOR A RESPONSE
Despite the injuries, the Knicks are looking to close out the first half of the season on a strong note after Saturday’s blowout loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics.
“We can’t just dwell on what just happened. Obviously, we lost,” Brunson said Monday after practice. “We got our asses kicked. How do we move forward from that? We can’t just sit here and feel sorry for ourselves.”
The Knicks got another reality check in their second loss to Boston this season — a reminder of just how high the bar is for a team with championship aspirations.
“They played very well,” Josh Hart said. “We didn’t play well, and they won. That simple.”