Detroit – OG Anunoby was true to his words.
He defended Kade Cunningham well in Game 1, but struggled in Game 2 as Cunningham erupted 33 points with 11/11 shots from the field.
Anunoby said that after that game, the Pistons “made some adjustments” as they set up the screen.
Anunoby vowed that he and his teammates would “make it themselves.”
He certainly did.
Anunoby did a much better job navigating all of these screens in the Knicks’ 118-116 Game 3 victory that won the Pistons at Little Caesar Arena on Thursday night.
When he couldn’t pass through the screen, Mikal Bridge often switched to him to help Anunoby.
“He’s a great player,” coach Tom Thibodeau said of Cunningham. “It puts a lot of pressure on you. What I like about both OG and Mikal is that they stick to it. You have to. You have to be determined. Sometimes, you can defend [Cunningham] Perfect, and he can make [the shot]. I think your team needs to be in harmony with what you’re trying to do. However, you also need to be aware of his ability to pass. You need to cover the 3-point line. ”
Cunningham finished with 24 points but finished with rough 10/25th shooting from the field.
He had 11 assists, but also had a game-high 6 turnovers.
Follow the reports from the Knicks’ post in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Sign up for Sports+ Subscribers: Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage, join experts and participate in insider texts about the series.
He was free to enter paint in Game 2, constantly defeating anunoby and other Knicks defenders from dribbling.
But they did a better job of putting pressure on Cunningham on the boundary line and holding him in front of them.
“He’s really destructive,” Thibodeau said of Anunoby. “It’s the pressure of the ball that really causes a lot of that stuff. I thought it was Mitch. [Robinson] It put a lot of ball pressure on us. OG reading plays very well. He has high expectations and can get to him by inviting him to invite him. Get those sales, especially live ball sales, and attack easily. You need a simple basket. We won 118. That’s a big number. That’s when we’re the best. ”
Anunoby also added 22 points to the attack.
And he remained true to his message after the game.
“We adjusted,” Anunoby said. “I’m sure they’ll make adjustments again. They’ll also make adjustments. Watch the film, see what can be improved, and try to get better.”
