OG Anunoby’s upcoming challenge is certainly as tough as the last one he faced.
Following his impressive performance against Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, Anunoby will now take on the task of guarding All-Star forward Jason Tatum in the second round against the Celtics.
Tatum has been averaging 33.5 points and hitting 47.8% from beyond the arc during Boston’s sweep of the Knicks earlier in the season, with Tom Thibodeau also deploying Mikal Bridges as his primary defender against Tatum.
“I’m always confident in OG. No matter who he’s defending, he brings the right mindset to every game. I trust him, no matter what the situation is,” a teammate mentioned.
While Cunningham averaged 25.0 points per game in the opening round, Anunoby’s presence made it difficult for him, limiting his shooting percentage to 42.6 and keeping him at just 17.9% from deep over the span of six games.
“Cade Cunningham is a talented player, no doubt. He deserves respect for what he’s accomplished this year,” noted Karl-Anthony Towns. “OG has consistently risen to the challenge of guarding the league’s best. He’s special. This is just another opportunity for him to face top competition.”
Anunoby hasn’t fared as well offensively against Boston this season, averaging only 9.0 points with a shooting percentage of 29.6%, including just 25% from three-point range over three games.
In contrast, Jalen Brunson’s latest billboard in New York is much more flattering than one that appeared recently in Detroit.
Nike had set up a sign on Seventh Avenue, promoting Brunson’s skills as they headed into Game 6 on Thursday.
“It was really cool to see, but now it’s about focusing on the next round,” Brunson said when asked about the billboard.
Before their recent matchup, another billboard in Detroit made a jab at him with the message, “Brunson, you’re your mother’s flopper.” Fans at Little Caesars Arena chanted the same phrase during Game 6.
Updates on the Knicks during the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Boston’s Derrick White commented on the regular season, saying, “What we did back then really doesn’t matter right now. It’s not about having an advantage. It’s the playoffs, and they’re a strong team.”
Thibodeau also mentioned that everyone would be available for practice sessions in Tarley Town on Saturday.
