CHICAGO -- Knicks forward OG Anunoby played 29 minutes and scored 12 points in his first game since March 16, but it was not enough as New York dropped Friday's contest 108-100 to the Chicago Bulls.
Anunoby had missed the past nine games with lingering discomfort in his right elbow, which he said after the game was caused by inflammation.
"I'm happy he's back, happy he's healthy," Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who scored 35 points, said after the game. "Obviously we didn't win, so it clouds my judgment right now, but I'm just happy he's healthy and out there."
The Knicks fell to 15-3 when Anunoby, who was acquired in a midseason trade with the Toronto Raptors, appears in game for them. However, he has played in just four since Jan. 27.
"Length, wing defender, versatility offensively, the ability to shoot the ball and move without the ball," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said before the game on what Anunoby adds to the team. "He can guard multiple positions. He can play multiple positions offensively. He does a little bit of everything. He does it well."
The Knicks have dropped four of their past five games.
New York will need the boost with Anunoby back in the lineup, especially considering it found out earlier this week that forward Julius Randle will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.
"I think everyone collectively will try to be more aggressive," Anunoby said.
New York is the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers by one game for the No. 3 seed but also just two games above the play-in tournament.
The Knicks had to play most of Friday's game without Josh Hart, who was ejected near the end of the first quarter for kicking Javonte Green in the head after a layup attempt.
Hart was issued a flagrant foul 2 after an official review of the play, warranting the automatic ejection. The foul was ruled "unnecessary and excessive," according to a pool report.
"Intent is not a criteria for what we do when we are ruling on a flagrant foul penalty 2 or 1," crew chief Scott Foster said in the pool report. "However, wind up, impact and follow through, potential for injury, whether the act was a non-basketball play, and location of the contact as well as whether we thought it was a reckless act are all the criteria that we felt were met for this decision."
Thibodeau was not happy with the explanation for the ejection.
"Josh has been terrific for us," he said. "Our bargain for error is very tight right now. So we have to be able to get past any distractions. It was a tough call, but it's tougher to lose him. It is what it is."