Anunoby's Full Return Reshapes Knicks' Eastern Finals Arsenal

OG Anunoby fully participated in practice Friday for the first time since a right hamstring strain sidelined him for the final two games of New York's second-round sweep of Philadelphia, per ESPN. Coach Mike Brown confirmed Anunoby completed all team drills without restriction, a material shift from Wednesday's limited session where he sat out high-intensity work. The Knicks will host Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 as early as Sunday, depending on whether Cleveland dispatches Detroit in their ongoing second-round series.

Anunoby's availability hinges on Cleveland's outcome Friday night. If the Cavaliers finish Game 6, New York opens at home Sunday. A Detroit victory forces a Game 7, pushing the Knicks' tip-off to Tuesday—extra time that reduces playoff injury risk for a team already managing Anunoby's recovery. The timing is critical. Anunoby missed two games and hasn't been game-tested at full speed in a week. Teams typically move cautiously with hamstring injuries; even cleared players can underperform in their first outing because the muscle memory and confidence aren't quite there yet, especially in playoff intensity.

What makes Anunoby's return particularly impactful is his scoring profile in this run. He's averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason while shooting 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from three—numbers that land him in elite playoff company. The 76ers couldn't contain him; Philadelphia's perimeter defense is middle-of-the-pack, and Anunoby exploited that. The Cavaliers or Pistons winner will have a fresher assignment: Anunoby hasn't played competitively in days, and his first few possessions in Game 1 will test whether rust or aggression dominates.

From a prop-betting angle, this creates a layered narrative. Anunoby's points total will likely sit in the 18–22 range for Game 1, a modest discount from his postseason average because sportsbooks price in the absence-and-return volatility. But the mechanism here matters: if Cleveland wins Friday (they're favored), New York plays Sunday with minimal rest, and Anunoby's first game back lands during a condensed window where conditioning and rhythm are unpredictable. If Detroit wins and pushes Game 7, Anunoby gets an extra 48 hours to build confidence in practice, and his performance floor rises. The unders on Anunoby points make more sense in the Sunday scenario; the overs justify themselves if Tuesday gives him the extra ramp-up time. Track the Cavs-Pistons result before locking any Anunoby volume props—the conference finals matchup timing directly determines his game-1 readiness profile.