OG Anunoby helped transform the Knicks into one of the NBA’s top defensive teams in January, and his third straight team-wide performance in his return to the lineup after an 18-game absence led to Tom A back-to-back win that helped Thibodeau’s team secure a much-needed comeback.
The Knicks, making his first start since Anunoby went down with an elbow injury that required clean-up surgery in late January, defeated fellow district rival 106-79 on Tuesday night amid late chants, two days earlier. They got revenge for their disastrous loss to the 76ers that night. “Philly sucks” in the garden.
Anunoby, playing for the first time since January 27, had 14 points in 29 minutes and was a plus-28 point score. The Knicks (38-27 overall) acquired Anunoby in late December and added him to the lineup this season with a 13-2 record. Raptors.
“Everything felt good. I’m excited to get back out there. It was fun,” Anunoby said, adding that he also received a standing ovation during pregame warmups and when he finished the game for the last time in the fourth quarter. Told. “It felt great. It’s been a while. I missed being able to play here, I missed seeing the fans, I missed seeing my teammates. So it was a great feeling for sure.”
Anunoby replaced Precious Achiuwa in the starting lineup, and backup center Jericho Sims was removed from the rotation for the time being.
Josh Hart remained in the starting five and recorded his fourth triple-double of the season, scoring 20 points, tying career highs with 19 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists in 39 minutes.
Jalen Brunson had 20 points with nine assists and Achiuwa contributed 13 points off the bench for the Knicks, who had lost 10 of the 18 games they played without Anunoby.
Defensively, it was the first time since 2000 that the Knicks held an opponent to under 80 points in three consecutive games.
“I thought OG came back for the first time after the layoff and gave us a big boost,” Thibodeau said. “His energy, effort, play, movement and shooting gave the team a lot.
“I thought Josh Hart was great. Defense, rebounding, scoring, playmaking, just an all-around player.”
With All-Star power forward Julius Randle (shoulder) and center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) still missing for the Knicks, Anunoby was cleared to fully resume practice last week and returned to the team’s starting lineup. He became the first player.
“He’s back, our savior is back,” Hart joked about Anunoby before the game. “[He’s] He is a player who creates space on the court with his shots, and is clearly an excellent defensive player.
“He’s definitely a player that will help us on both sides of the ball.”
About halfway through Tuesday’s game, the Knicks had a “great” performance in Sunday’s home loss to the Sixers, with Hart and Brunson committing 21 turnovers and scoring an NBA season-low 73 points. They took a 17-7 lead. first quarter.
Anunoby sank his first two shots, hitting a midrange jumper along the baseline in the first minute and making his first 3-pointer shortly after. All starters were at least plus-10 in the first quarter as the Knicks held the Sixers to six field goals on 18 attempts and built a slim one-point advantage, 26-14.
After Kelly Oubre and Buddy Hield scored all of the points to get Philadelphia within two points at 8-0, Brunson electrified the home crowd with a fast-break dunk off Anunoby.
Donte DiVincenzo (16 points) hit his second trey and Brunson sank two more from long range to push the lead back to 13 points, making it a 59-41 game at intermission.
Two additional dunks by Anunoby and a dunk by Isaiah Hartenstein were key to breaking a 22-4 run and taking a commanding 87-61 lead into the final period.
“I think we played to our strengths to the best of our ability. We played faster, took care of the ball and rebounded the ball,” Hart said. “OG was great there. “Knockdown shots. Big defensive stops. That’s his game. It’s great to have him there. He’s going to help this team moving forward.”
