The Knicks hope to have OG Anunoby and Josh Hart back for Game 7

The New York Knicks have listed forward OG Anunoby and guard Josh Hart as “questionable” to play in Game 7 win or go home against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, May 19 at Madison Square Garden.

Anunoby has been out since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals due to a left hamstring strain suffered on May 6. Anunoby averaged 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in eight playoff games.

Hart is suffering from an abdominal strain sustained during Game 6 on Friday, May 17. Hart averaged 14.9 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 12 playoff games.

Anunoby has apparently made progress in his rehabilitation, although Tom Thibodeau didn’t really give an update last time he was asked about OG status.

“Whatever the doctor says,” Thibs said of OG’s availability for Game 7. ” Day by day. We will see.”

OG was expected to remain out unless the Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said this before Friday’s Game 6. Sources close to the player told reporters at the New York Post and The Athletic that there was a realistic chance Anunoby would play on Sunday.

“Anunoby plans to participate in shootaround Sunday morning and test the possibility of returning for Game 7,” sources told ESPN. It’s worth noting, however, that OG’s availability has been listed as “day-to-day” for over 10 days now, which could be a good old-fashioned mind game and mind game on the part of the Knicks before the most important of the last 25. years in franchise history.

According to Thibodeau, OG had not progressed until the race Friday, engaging only in “light work on the ground.”

Hart, meanwhile, suffers from an abdominal strain that causes him pain with almost every movement, “including just coughing and breathing,” according to ESPN. He played 31 minutes in New York’s Game 6 loss, staying on the court as much as his body allowed before being ruled out early in the fourth quarter due to “abdominal pain”, as l called the Knicks.

Hart was injured while trying to neutralize Pascal Siakam for a rebound on a missed free throw less than halfway through the first quarter.

“There is no escaping pain, which can be avoided through injuries to other parts of the body,” ESPN sources reported on Saturday. Knowing Hart, though, it’s reasonable to expect him to at least try to play through the pain, if only for a few minutes on Sunday.

Jalen Brunson, who knows Hart better than anyone, told reporters, “I guess he’s playing — it’s Game 7,” after Friday’s Game 6 loss. Obviously, even if Hart is able to take the court in Knicks gear, we’ll have to wait and see how effective he can be and whether he helps or hurts the Knicks on the court if he is visibly injured.

The Knicks will be without Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic for the remainder of the playoffs, all of whom are out for the season due to shoulder, ankle and foot surgeries, respectively.

Game 7 between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers is scheduled to take place on Sunday at Madison Square Garden with tip-off at 3:30 p.m. The winner will advance to the next round and face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.