CHARLOTTE, N.C. — OG Anunoby was a late scratch from Monday’s 113-92 win over the Hornets with an inflamed right elbow, an injury he aggravated during pregame warmups.
“He’s had it before, but it was one of those things that flared up,” Tom Thibdodeau said. “If he can’t play, he can’t play.”
The small forward, a defensive revelation since his acquisition last month and a key part of New York’s 13-2 record in January, had been wearing black kinesio tape around that shooting elbow in previous appearances.
He arrived at Spectrum Center on Monday planning to play.
“I think it’s going to be day-to-day,” Thibodeau said. “It’s inflammation. So we’ll see where it is [for Tuesday’s game against the Jazz]. He went through shootaround. He was planning on playing. It was a late scratch.”
With Anunoby and Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder) out in Charlotte, the Knicks elevated Josh Hart (39 minutes, eight points, 12 rebounds, seven assists) and Precious Achiuwa (Nine points, five rebounds, 33 minutes) into the starting lineup.
Thibodeau basically cut his rotation to eight players.
Miles McBride (11 points in 15 minutes), Jericho Sims (24 minutes, seven rebounds) and Quentin Grimes (32 minutes) were part of a dominating bench crew Monday.
Anunoby, who averaged 15.6 points on 52 percent shooting in 14 contests with the Knicks, hadn’t missed a game since being acquired from the Raptors.
He has dealt with multiple injuries in his career and hadn’t played at least 70 games in a season since his rookie campaign in 2017-18.
Thibodeau’s approval rating must be up because he got a rousing ovation in the pregame introductions.
“I didn’t notice that but I think Josh [Hart] pointed it out to me,” Thibodeau joked. “Asked me if it was my family.”
Hart was happy.
“Coach is always at fault,” he said. “For him to get some love, that was cool.”
Kyle Lowry was traded to the Hornets but never reported to the team as they search for a redirection trade.
And that was understood immediately by Charlotte coach Steve Clifford.
“Kyle’s an older guy. To be honest, he wants to go to a team where he can win it. I’m sure those conversations are probably being had right now,” Clifford said. “So when they told me about the trade, I didn’t think he wanted to come here. So I’m sure he’s working with his agent on all that stuff.”
Lowry was dealt from the Heat for Terry Rozier.
If he’s not traded again before the Feb. 8 deadline, he’ll likely be bought out of his contract and become a free agent.
The Knicks are rumored suitors for the point guard, especially if he hits the buyout market.
Evan Fournier didn’t travel with the Knicks to Charlotte for “personal reasons,” the Knicks said.
He has appeared in only three games this season and is being shopped as a $19 million expiring contract before the trade deadline.
Despite natural speculation that Fournier didn’t want to be with the team given his status, a source said his “personal reasons” absence was legitimate.