PHILADELPHIA — OG Anunoby remains questionable for the New York Knicks’ Game 4 matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The Knicks hold a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series and look to close it out on home court. Anunoby, sidelined with a right hamstring strain since Game 2, did not play in Game 3 and continues to be listed as day-to-day.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown emphasized that Anunoby’s availability is strictly determined by medical staff and the player. “It’s all medical related and it starts with [the training staff], the doctors and OG. All I want them to do is tell me when he can play,” Brown said Saturday. The forward sustained the injury late in the fourth quarter of Game 2 after limping off the court and not returning. Imaging showed the strain to be minor, and the Knicks are confident he will not miss significant time.

In Anunoby’s absence, guard Miles McBride started Game 3 but struggled offensively. Landry Shamet stepped up, contributing 15 points and playing extended minutes, helping fill the gap as the Knicks won 108-94.

On the Philadelphia side, star center Joel Embiid, who missed Game 2 due to hip and ankle issues, is probable for Game 4 after returning to action in Game 3. The 76ers face the significant challenge of overcoming a 3-0 series deficit, a comeback no NBA team has ever completed. Nevertheless, the team draws some confidence from their recent first-round victory over the Boston Celtics, where they rallied from a 3-1 deficit. Brown acknowledged the challenge ahead while cautioning against looking too far ahead. “They’re a really good team and they’ve already done it once before,” he said. “We addressed it, but the biggest thing is just trying to stay present, not getting ahead of yourself.”

Meanwhile, New York Giants coach John Harbaugh has expressed interest in attending a Knicks playoff game, noting the team’s dominant position in the series. “My wife is on me, she wants to get there for a playoff game,” Harbaugh remarked Saturday. “Where do they stand? 3-0? Counting on another series.”

Off the court, emotional undercurrents continue to shape the series. 76ers head coach Nick Nurse is coping with the recent loss of his brother, Steve Nurse, who passed unexpectedly on April 29. Despite the personal tragedy, Nurse maintained his coaching responsibilities throughout the series, taking only one day off to attend the funeral. Reflecting on his experience, Nurse stated that staying engaged with work helps manage grief, and he believes his brother would have expected him to continue coaching.

For Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns, Sunday holds personal significance as Mother’s Day. Towns lost his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, to COVID-19 in April 2020 and has spoken publicly about the difficulty of balancing personal loss with professional responsibilities. “I really wanted to give my condolences to [Nurse],” Towns said Saturday. “I know how it is to have to show up to work and to have a lot of pressure on you to do something special when you’re kind of not fully there.” Towns welcomed the distraction that Sunday’s game provides. “I’m glad we got a game on Mother’s Day. It gets me doing what I love and what gets me off of everything off the court,” he added.