OG Anunoby gets back on track in encouraging Knicks development

Knicks’ Anunoby Shines as Team Looks Ahead

OG Anunoby has become somewhat of a litmus test for the Knicks this season.

After dealing with a toe avulsion in his right foot, which kept him out before the All-Star break, his return was a bit rocky. But, he found his rhythm during the Knicks’ impressive 127-98 win against the Bucks in Milwaukee on Friday night.

In that game, Anunoby scored 24 points, shooting 8-of-10 overall and hitting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.

His involvement in the Knicks’ offense is crucial. There’s a noticeable correlation: the Knicks boast a record of 15-3 when he scores 20 or more points. Conversely, they’re just 15-13 when his points fall below that threshold.

“That’s huge,” Brown remarked on Anunoby’s scoring after the game. “You know, I mentioned this before his injury—he was playing at a high level. Seeing and feeling that performance is a big deal.”

Looking ahead, the Knicks are facing what seems to be their most challenging five-game stretch of the season. They’ll host the Spurs on Sunday, head to Toronto on Tuesday, have a home game against the Thunder on Wednesday, visit Denver on Friday, and finally, take on the Lakers in Los Angeles next Sunday.

All these teams are currently ranked in the top six of their respective conferences.

Brown, however, has downplayed the need to focus too much on upcoming opponents. “Honestly, you probably know the schedule better than I do,” he said, laughing. “That’s a lot of games to think about at once. We’re just aiming to tackle one game at a time. Right now, our focus is on preparing for San Antonio this Sunday at 1 p.m.”