The New York Knicks will have to navigate Game 3 without their defensive anchor. OG Anunoby has been ruled out for Friday night's matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a strained right hamstring, though the team is breathing a sigh of relief as the injury appears less severe than initially feared. The forward is listed as day to day as the second-round series continues.

Anunoby suffered the injury late in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, a game where he was putting together another stellar performance with 24 points. The 6-foot-7 wing, widely regarded as the Knicks' top defender, signaled to the bench after appearing to tweak his leg and headed to the locker room. He did not return to the sideline before New York secured a hard-fought 108-102 victory, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead.

This isn't the first time the Knicks have faced this concern with Anunoby. Two years ago, he dealt with a hamstring injury in the second round against Indiana, missing four games after the Knicks built a 2-0 lead. He managed only a few minutes in Game 7 as the Pacers rallied to win the series—a painful reminder of how quickly momentum can shift.

Through the postseason, Anunoby has been an offensive force, averaging 21.4 points while shooting an incredible 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from beyond the arc. His absence leaves a significant void on both ends of the floor, but the Knicks will look to their depth to hold the line as they aim to take a stranglehold on the series without their star defender.