OG Anunoby's Injury Status Updated in New Knicks Rumors Ahead of NBA Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks are expecting OG Anunoby to return from his hamstring injury in time for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Shams Charania reported in a Wednesday appearance on ESPN's SportsCenter.

According to Charania, the Knicks have "optimism" about Anunoby's status.

Anunoby participated in parts of Wednesday's practice but did not take part in a team scrimmage, head coach Mike Brown told reporters.

Anunoby suffered his injury while playing the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the second round on May 6. He sat out the final two games of the series as the Knicks swept the Sixers.

How long Anunoby has to recover before the next series starts will depend in part on the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, who are still in the middle of their own second-round series.

The Pistons and Cavaliers are currently tied 2-2 heading into Wednesday night's Game 5 in Detroit. Should the series go to seven games, it would not wrap up until Sunday.

The Eastern Conference Finals are currently set to start next Tuesday, although they could start as soon as Sunday depending on the results of Cavs-Pistons.

Brown said Wednesday he was waiting on his own updates from the medical staff as to when Anunoby would be cleared to play in time for the next series.

"They told me what he could do today. They have not told me what he can do tomorrow," Brown said. "I don't know what he'll be able to do for Game 1... At least for me, I'm taking it one game at a time, and I don't want to know from medical or anybody else anything beyond that, because when I do that stuff, I get my hopes up."

Only Jalen Brunson had contributed more on offense through the first eight games of the playoffs than Anunoby, who averaged 21.4 points per game before he was sidelined with his injury.

Getting that production back will be key to the Knicks' hopes of earning redemption from last spring's conference finals loss to the Indiana Pacers and advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

Miles McBride slid into the starting lineup while Landry Shamet saw more playing time during the final two games of the second round. McBride will likely slide back to the bench, while Shamet could move back out of the rotation when Anunoby is able to return.