OG Anunoby must have felt a familiar dread as he clutched his left hamstring while leaving the court at the end of the first quarter, reminding everyone of the injury that kept him out last spring. It was a tense moment, but after a short stint in the locker room, he returned to play a key role in the second half.
His three-pointer from the right wing in the final moments of the third quarter helped the Knicks surge ahead during a dominant 37-23 frame, putting them in a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Celtics as they aimed to eliminate the defending champions in Game 5 in Boston.
“I thought OG had a huge game,” coach Tom Thibodeau remarked. “He showed toughness and made timely plays, just everywhere on the court. He’s a force; with a player like [Jayson] Tatum, there’s a lot to manage.”
Tatum, for his part, led the scoring with 42 points but appeared to sustain a significant injury to his right ankle or leg late in the fourth quarter.
Anunoby had started strong with 29 points in the opener but struggled in the following two games, only scoring 7 points over those outings. However, he rebounded well, finishing with 20 points and connecting on three-pointers while shooting 14-for-8 over 39 minutes in this game.
“He’s a fantastic offensive player and can impact the game in multiple ways,” Celtics coach Joe Matzla commented. “When you look at how he scores, you focus on controlling the rebounds and his catch-and-shoot opportunities.”
Insights from the Knicks’ postseason in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Last year’s playoffs were tough for Anunoby, who faced hamstring issues in Game 2 against the Pacers and missed the next four games. He attempted to return for Game 7 but had to leave after just five minutes, ultimately missing the rest of the season in their last loss.
Signing a lucrative $212.5 million contract extension over the summer, Anunoby made vital contributions in the fourth quarter on Monday, enabling the Knicks to secure the win.
His drive to the basket increased their lead to 102-99 in the fourth, shortly before hitting another three-pointer to break a tie at 5:52 remaining. Anunoby also made a breakaway play that put the Knicks ahead by nine points with just over three minutes left.
“It feels good,” Anunoby expressed. While acknowledging some weird sensations in his hamstring during the first quarter, he stated he was fine overall. “The atmosphere was amazing. We played hard, managed to stop their transitions, and scored some vital points.”
“We didn’t back down. It was challenging; they had the momentum, but we just kept on fighting.”
