New York was buzzing after the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander crushed the Knicks with a game-winning jumper at Madison Square Garden. But the hurt didn't stop there; Josh Hart added to the blow, suggesting that OG Anunoby and Julius Randle might not return this season. "I'm looking at it like this is the team we're going to have," Hart remarked, hinting at a season without the sidelined stars.
Anunoby and Randle went down after a win against the Miami Heat, Anunoby with elbow issues and Randle with a separated shoulder from a charge by Heat's Jaime Jaquez Jr. While Anunoby briefly returned, he's now been out for the past seven games. Randle, on the other hand, hasn't progressed much in his recovery, stuck at "controlled contact" workouts.
Coach Tom Thibodeau, when asked about the return of Anunoby and Randle, remained pragmatic, saying, "You deal with it day-to-day. When he's strong enough, he gets out there." He emphasized the unpredictability of Randle's injury and the need to stay positive during rehab.
Despite missing key players, the Knicks nearly pulled off another win, falling short due to late-game errors, including crucial missed free throws. The loss, though frustrating, didn't dampen their playoff hopes, as they remain in contention in the Eastern Conference standings.
For the Thunder, the win secured their first playoff spot since 2020, a milestone for a team with "big goals, big aspirations," according to Gilgeous-Alexander. However, he remained focused, stating, "We haven't really done anything yet. We just got to keep getting better, and see where it takes us."
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