Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau continued to be vague on the status of injured forward OG Anunoby, who sat out again Sunday after being cleared to resume practicing last week.
Anunoby missed his 18th consecutive game since he last played on Jan. 27 due to a right-elbow injury that required surgery.
Asked before Sunday’s loss to the 76ers if there’s something the medical staff needs to see from Anunoby to be cleared to resume game action, Thibodeau replied flatly, “Nope.”
The Knicks will face the Sixers at home again Tuesday night before embarking on a four-game western swing beginning Thursday night in Portland.
Thibodeau said Anunoby, and sidelined big men Julius Randle (shoulder) and Mitchell Robinson “can travel,” before adding “Hopefully, OG is cleared and should be able to play.”
Isaiah Hartenstein appeared to be injured again — possibly his back — when he departed the bench with five minutes left in the third quarter for the locker room, but he said after the game he is “fine.” He returned to the bench and checked back into the game with 4:46 remaining in the fourth.
The Knicks have been monitoring Hartenstein’s minutes since he missed multiple games in mid-February with recurring Achilles soreness.
“No, I’m fine,” said Hartenstein, who played 24 minutes. “I go warm up in the back. It’s fine. It’s my normal rotation. Every time I go to the back doesn’t mean I’m hurt. … I’m gonna wave to y’all next time.”
Shake Milton hasn’t cracked Thibodeau’s rotation in three games since signing a free-agent deal last week, playing just one minute in garbage time Friday night against Orlando.
“Just fit in and stay ready. Trades are hard in the middle of the season. You gotta learn the system,” Thibodeau said. “But I like what I’ve seen from him in terms of his attitude, his approach. He’s been very, very good.”
Veteran guard Alec Burks had another quiet game, with five points on 1-for-3 shooting in 12 minutes.