OG Anunoby finishes in style after struggling…
OG Anunoby’s injured hamstring prevented him from returning for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals — until he was needed most.
The Knicks’ best all-around performer through the majority of the first two rounds was largely out of rhythm in his first sport in 13 days, struggling to transfer with his customary velocity and ferocity in Tuesday evening’s series-opener.
But Anunoby — who reentered the sport with the Knicks trailing 93-71 and 7:52 left in the fourth quarter — gutted his approach to the end line, contributing 9 factors, three rebounds and a steal in extra time of the Knicks’ 115-104 win over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
OG Anunoby drives on James Harden during the Knicks’ 115-104 comeback extra time win in Game 1 on May 19, 2026 at the Garden. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
“We had to keep fighting,” Anunoby said. “We’re just mentally tough. We knew we had a run in us. Just play to the end.”
The Knicks’ second-round sweep of the 76ers — mixed with Cleveland’s seven-game sequence against the Pistons — gave Anunoby much-needed time to get well, but the remaining got here with a lot of rust.
The sellout crowd welcomed back Anunoby with a deafening roar during the group’s introductions, understanding the significance of the group’s top defender to their title hopes — just two years eliminated from an Anunoby hamstring injury basically flipping the result of their second-round loss to the Pacers — but the thrill shortly evaporated.
Anunoby missed the sport’s first shot. His next attempt was off, as was his next 3-pointer, which went long for an airball.
He appeared shaky, his steps considerably measured, just two weeks eliminated from a stretch in which he dominated both ends of the ground with explosiveness and decisiveness.
One drive ended with an awkward Euro step and a touring call. Another possession ended with him fumbling a go in the lane, as the Cavs turned an 11-point deficit into a 50-48 halftime lead.
Anunoby went to the break with two factors, one rebound, one turnover and a team-worst minus-12 score.Entering Tuesday, Anunoby was averaging 21.4 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and a team-best 1.9 steals in the playoffs, while capturing 61.9 % from the sphere (a team-high 53.8 % on 3-pointers).
“[There was] a little rust, but that was expected,” Anunoby said. “I knew that. As the game went on, the rust wore off.”
Anunoby remained largely invisible in the third quarter, but the sport modified when Mike Brown requested him to return with less than eight minutes left and the result seemingly determined.
Anunoby missed an open 3-pointer with the Knicks trailing by six with 1:41 left in regulation, but the 6-foot-7 ahead then delivered the sport’s largest help. He took a go from Jalen Brunson at the top of the key, then swung it to Landry Shamet in the nook for the game-tying 3-pointer with 44.3 seconds remaining.
Anunoby, who completed with 13 factors (capturing 2-for-9 from the sphere, including 1-for-6 from 3), 5 rebounds, two assists, one steal and a plus-15 score in 34 minutes, hit seven free throws in extra time, plus a drive to put the Knicks up six with 2:56 remaining, sparking chants of “O-G” from the hundreds who knew what his return might imply.
“I felt good,” Anunoby said. “Just continue to play hard, shoot shots and be aggressive. … I don’t think it was hesitancy [early]. Just as the game went on I felt more and more like myself.”
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