Knicks' Title Hopes Depend on OG Anunoby's Return from Injury Amid NBA Playoff Rumors

It is difficult to imagine a scenario where the New York Knicks make a legitimate championship push without small forward OG Anunoby but that may be the reality facing the team moving forward.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Anunoby will miss Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Indiana and may be out beyond that as he battles a strained hamstring.

Losing Anunoby for an extended period would be devastating for a Knicks team that has been one of the hottest in the playoffs to this point.

He has been the driving force behind the team's defensive efforts and has proven to be equally as significant offensively since the trade that sent him to the Big Apple on December 31.

Anunoby is averaging 14.1 points since joining the Knicks, with 3.4 defensive rebounds, one block, and 1.7 steals per game. That stat line does not reflect just how much of a game-changer he has been for the Knicks, with a defensive rating of 111.9, per Stat Muse.

Without him bringing his superb off-ball defense to the game, the Knicks are susceptible to a very fast Pacers offense that can score quick and make it difficult for their conference rivals to keep up.

The Knicks gave up 26 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3 and will face a similar struggle Sunday. If they can manage to stunt the Pacers' offense, led by Tyrese Haliburton, the team can escape Indiana with a 3-1 series lead.

If the team struggles to contain the Pacers, it should expect a similar result.

Jalen Brunson has been good enough to potentially guide the Knicks to a series victory, but the long-term prospects for New York in its pursuit of its first NBA title since 1973 rest on Anunoby's health and his ability to provide the team with the defensive presence it needs to combat East favorite Boston.