OG Anunoby does it all in Knicks victory:…
It was becoming that it was OG Anunoby’s reverse dunk that put the icing on the cake.
On opening evening, the Knicks’ quietest participant made the loudest affect.
That dunk — with 34.7 seconds left — gave the Knicks a 10-point lead that all but sealed their 119-111 win over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Anunoby scored the Knicks’ last 4 factors.
Those 4 factors meant he surpassed Jalen Brunson on the evening, ending with a team-high 24 factors on 9-for-17 taking pictures from the sphere and 4-for-9 taking pictures from 3-point vary.
But his affect went far past his offensive output.
Before the season, he declared his long-standing intentions to win Defensive Player of the Year and be named to the All-Defensive First Team.
He has felt missed with both in the past. He started the season backing up his phrases.
OG Anunoby, who scored 24 factors, shoots a jumper over Evan Mobley during the Knicks’ 119-111 win over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 22, 2025. Jason Szenes / New York Post
“OG was a monster,” coach Mike Brown said. “He was our defensive player of the game. I think he had six or seven deflections. He guarded a lot of different people, so he saw a lot of different types of players tonight. He did a heck of a job.”
“Playing with OG and knowing [he’s guarding the] ball-side corner, that he might take the ball from somebody, it’s crazy,” Mikal Bridges said. “He has that talent.”
Anunoby also dominated the glass, recording 14 rebounds. It matched a profession high.
OG Anunoby, who scored a game-high 24 factors, drives between two Cavaliers defenders during the Knicks’ opening-night home win. Jason Szenes / New York Post
After being told Brown called him a “monster,” he had a predictably subdued response.
“I just try to play hard,” Anunoby said. “Do everything to help the team win.”
Brown’s offensive system is designed to ease the burden on Brunson and help get the Knicks’ periphery scorers concerned. When Brunson missed time last yr, Anunoby often carried the scoring load. But when Brunson was healthy, Anunoby at occasions obtained frozen out.
Wednesday was a promising signal of his sustainable involvement on the offensive end.
“The game will tell you what to do,” Anunoby said. “Each game will be different, but as we get more and more comfortable, it’ll get better and better.”
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