CLEVELAND — OG Anunoby’s long-awaited return didn’t go so well.
The forward, who missed the previous five games with a sprained right foot, scored just five points in 27 minutes and couldn’t help a Knicks defense that was crushed Friday night by the Cavaliers, 142-105.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau said he expected a bumpy performance.
“It was about what I thought it would be,” the coach said. “There were some good minutes early, and then there’s some rust he’s got to work through, but I thought he had good energy.”
In his first comments since last month, Anunoby offered only short answers but alleviated any concerns about a play in the third quarter when he took a spill on the court and held his foot.
“Just a misstep,” he said.
Anunoby, who was icing his foot after Friday’s loss, labeled his injury “a midfoot sprain” after ESPN called it a “toe injury.”
“Felt good to get back,” he said. “Feeling better and better as the season goes on.”
Anunoby, 27, hadn’t played since Feb. 1 against the Lakers, when he stepped gingerly to the locker room following a non-contact injury that occurred as LeBron James closed out at the 3-point line.
The Knicks went an impressive 5-1 in his absence, demonstrating something they didn’t last season — success without their top defender.
Mitchell Robinson remained out Friday night while recovering from his ankle surgery, and a league source said the center also will miss Sunday’s game in Boston.
Robinson hasn’t played since April but returned to full-contact practice this week.
While awaiting and banking on Robinson’s return, the Knicks didn’t make a trade for much-needed frontcourt depth at the deadline.
Rookie Ariel Hukporti, who played 20 minutes Friday, currently is the backup center.
“Just his energy [is what I like]. That’s the biggest thing,” Thibodeau said of the rookie. “There’s always going to be a learning part to what he does.
“I’d rather have a guy have the energy than try to wind a guy up. He’s always had good energy. And obviously, there’s a lot of room for improvement.”