2 min read • May 21, 2024
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This week the New York Knicks' playoff journey ended after a slew of injuries derailed their hopes of progressing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Although the Knicks had a 2-0 series lead after their two home games against the Pacers, we knew the health advantages were with the Pacers and smart bettors could have got great odds for a Pacers series win at that point.
Ahead of Game 6 and 7 we provided a Knicks Injury Report highlighting their injuries would be too much to overcome and SIC Picks subscribers had a great time winning props and spread picks based on injuries throughout the series.
Star guard Jalen Brunson fractured his left (shooting) hand in Game 7 of Indiana’s 130-109 victory, exiting with 3:02 left in the third quarter.
After a brief visit to the locker room, Brunson returned to the court for just 14 seconds before heading back out with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter. This marked the end of both his game and the Knicks' season.
"I thought I just jammed it, to be honest with you," Brunson said about his brief return to the game. "I looked down and knew something was wrong."
Brunson, who had been a standout throughout the playoffs, managed 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting before his injury occurred due to a swipe at the ball by a Pacers player.
The Knicks were already hampered by injuries to key players. Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic were all sidelined. OG Anunoby, dealing with a strained left hamstring, missed Games 3 through 6 and was limited to just five minutes in Game 7. Josh Hart, playing through a strained abdominal muscle, contributed 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals despite his questionable status.
Coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team’s resilience, stating, "This group didn’t make excuses for anything... There was nothing left to give at the end."
The Knicks, who finished 50-32 and secured the No. 2 seed, showed significant progress this season. However, their playoff performance leaves questions about what could have been with a healthy roster. Thibodeau expressed his admiration for the team, saying, "I love this group. As a coach, you couldn’t ask for a better group."
The offseason poses critical decisions for the Knicks, including potential extensions for Brunson and Randle, re-signing key free agents like Anunoby, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Alec Burks, and leveraging their draft picks and salary cap exceptions.
The Knicks aim to build on this season's success and health will be pivotal in their quest for a title run.
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