(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
Even though they ended up winning their game, Wednesday night was undeniably tough for the New York Knicks.
First, Jalen Brunson got injured in the first quarter and missed all of the second.
Then, OG Anunoby left in the third quarter after injuring his hamstring.
It felt like team members were dropping like flies and Paul Pierce spoke about that on Thursday morning.
Speaking on “Undisputed,” Pierce said that head coach Tom Thibodeau is to blame for his team’s recent injuries.
.@PaulPierce34 says Coach Thibodeau is running his players into the ground: pic.twitter.com/vY6k3L9OHv
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 9, 2024
Thibodeau is known for how hard he pushes his players, racking up their minutes and rarely giving them rest during the regular season and definitely in the playoffs.
Pierce noted that the injuries to both Brunson and Anunoby looked to be caused by fatigue, not serious on-court impact with other players.
That fatigue could be caused by Thibodeau’s punishing demands and the output he expects.
While Brunson came back in the game, there isn’t an update on Anunoby.
They don’t know when he will be back and there is a chance that he could miss the next few games, at the least.
It’s a huge shame because Wednesday’s game was another prime example of how great Anunoby can be for his team.
He scored 28 points in 28 minutes, along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
Losing him would be painful for the Knicks, especially if his injury could have been avoided with more rest on his body.
As for Brunson, he will likely be ready to play in Game 3 in a few days, which is very welcome news for New York.
There are still many more games to play and Knicks players need to stay healthy.
Sadly, any chance of resting is now gone.
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