OG Anunoby's Hamstring Strain Is Minor, But New York's Lineup Shuffle Creates Real Prop Value for Game 3

OG Anunoby is questionable for Friday's Game 3 against Philadelphia after imaging revealed a 'very minor' hamstring strain, per New York Post sources. The encouraging news: this strain is considered milder than two previous hamstring injuries that cost him nine and four games respectively. SNY's Ian Begley put it plainly — 'This is not something that's going to take weeks' — and optimism inside the locker room has Anunoby at least in the conversation for a Game 3 return, with Sunday's Game 4 looking more realistic if the staff plays it conservatively with a 2-0 series lead.

The downstream lineup effects are where this gets interesting. Miles McBride is the most likely candidate to slide into Anunoby's starting spot if he sits, bringing a different offensive profile to that second-wing slot — one that leans harder into pull-up threes and ball-handling rather than the off-ball cutting and defensive intensity Anunoby provides. Landry Shamet could also re-enter the rotation as a floor-spacer, and the Knicks may lean into more double-big looks with Mitchell Robinson expected back after missing Game 2 with an illness. That's a meaningful structural shift in how New York deploys its minutes.

Josh Hart is the wildcard here. He's listed questionable himself after spraining his left thumb in Game 2, but all indicators suggest he plays through it. Historical precedent from earlier this regular season matters: when Anunoby missed time in the first half of the year, Hart's usage and production measurably spiked. He absorbed defensive assignments, handled more off-ball activity, and saw his points, rebounds, and assists tick upward across the board. If both Anunoby and Hart play, their usage normalizes. If Anunoby sits and Hart goes, Hart becomes one of the more underpriced players on the board.

For prop bettors, the clearest angle is Hart's PRA (points-rebounds-assists combined) line. In stretches this season without Anunoby, Hart consistently posted numbers that outpaced his listed market totals by three to five units. Sportsbooks will anchor his Game 3 line to his season average or recent playoff output — they won't fully bake in the Anunoby-out usage bump until the lineup is confirmed. That lag is the edge. McBride's points and threes-made lines also deserve a second look; starting minutes in a playoff game against a Philadelphia defense that has struggled to contain quick guards off the dribble is a different context than his usual bench role, and his number likely stays low given his typical usage profile.

Robinson returning to the lineup is a quieter positive — his screen-and-roll chemistry with Jalen Brunson stabilizes New York's half-court offense and keeps the Knicks from over-relying on isoball if their wing rotation is shorthanded. Monitor the official Game 3 injury report when it drops Friday afternoon. If Anunoby is officially out, move quickly on Hart's PRA before the market corrects.