OG Anunoby set for Knicks return versus 76ers

The Knicks dropped 10 of the 18 games they played without OG Anunoby, who finally was expected to return to their lineup for the first time since he was shut down in late January with an elbow injury that required cleanup surgery.

Tom Thibodeau said before Tuesday’s game against the 76ers that Anunoby was expected to play as long as he suffered no setbacks during pregame warm-ups.

The Knicks also have been missing All-Star power forward Julius Randle and starting center Mitchell Robinson over that exact span, and the Knicks hope they also are progressing towards respective returns before the end of the regular season.

Anunoby was set to become the first of the team’s starting frontline to make it back after he’d been cleared to resume practicing fully last week and then cleared by the medical staff to make his first game appearance since Jan. 27 against the Heat.

The Knicks had won 12 of the 14 games Anunoby appeared in following his acquisition along with Precious Achiuwa from the Raptors on Dec. 30 in a blockbuster deal that sent former first-round picks RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto.

The 27-year-old Anunoby averaged 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals in his first 14 appearances after the trade, while shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range.