The New York Knicks are preparing for Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on Monday evening.
New York enters Monday with a 1-0 series lead after a 113-102 win in Game 1 and will try to build on that performance at home to carry a commanding 2-0 lead on the road games later this week.
Amid all of those positives, there is the bad that New York finds itself managing an injury to one of their key starters in forward OG Anunoby.
The Knicks are listing Anunoby as "probable" for Game 2 with a left ankle sprain. The injury stems from Game 1, when Anunoby rolled his ankle after stepping on an opponent’s foot.
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Anunoby logged 38 minutes in the opener, showing no major limitations after coming back onto the floor. He briefly exited the game but returned and continued to play without issue.
He finished with 18 points and eight rebounds, playing a key role on both ends of the floor, and posting a +9 plus/minus when on the court.
Anunoby was tasked with guarding Jalen Johnson while helping control Atlanta’s perimeter scoring and big man Onyeka Okongwu, thanks to his witchability.
The probable designation suggests the injury shouldn't be enough to sideline Anunoby on Tuesday.
However, Anunoby already dealt with a similar ankle issue late in the regular season, which merits monitoring from the Knicks side and aligns with his placement in the injury report heading into Game 2.
If Anunoby is ultimately ruled out, Mikal Bridges will take on a bigger role as one of New York's starting wings, while Landry Shamet or Miles McBride could enter the starting five in a move that would make the Knicks smaller against the Hawks.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
