“O-G! O-G! O-G!”
The rhythmic chant echoed via Ball Area, emanating from a small however spirited contingent of Knicks followers within the sellout crowd. Two-letter names have a manner of rolling off the tongue, and for OG Anunoby, it was a becoming soundtrack to a profession evening.
Anunoby was in full “go-mode,” and the Knicks adopted his lead, dismantling the 2023 NBA champion Denver Nuggets with a press release 145-118 victory on Monday evening. Within the third cease of their five-game highway journey, New York placed on an offensive clinic, fueled by Anunoby’s career-high 40-point eruption on 16-of-23 capturing from the sector, together with a 5-of-7 capturing evening from past the arc.
With 38 factors already underneath his belt by the tip of the third quarter, the Knicks devoted welcomed Anunoby to the bench with thunderous chants of his title.
Karl-Anthony Cities, seated beside him, waved the gang on, relishing the second as their workforce cruised to victory.
Monday marked Anunoby’s eighth 20-point sport of the season, all coming in November, underscoring his emergence as a dual-threat star. Signed to a franchise-record five-year, $212.5 million contract within the offseason for his defensive prowess, Anunoby has exceeded expectations on the offensive finish.
His two-way impression was on full show towards Denver. Not solely did he torch the Nuggets along with his scoring, however he additionally contributed defensively, serving to to stifle three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Anunoby tallied one block, a key one on Jokic, who entered the sport averaging a triple-double with 30.3 factors, 13.9 rebounds, and 11.3 assists. Jokic completed with a modest 22 factors, seven rebounds, and 7 assists earlier than sitting out the ultimate quarter because the Knicks’ relentless assault rendered the sport out of attain.
With the win, the Knicks have now taken 5 of their final six video games, together with a sweep of the ultimate three contests of a four-game homestand. Their victims embody two wins over cross-bridge rival Brooklyn and a blowout of the lowly Washington Wizards. Monday’s victory over the Nuggets, nevertheless, holds higher significance.
Denver might not at the moment resemble its championship-winning kind, but it surely stays a formidable opponent. The Knicks didn’t simply beat the Nuggets — they dominated from begin to end, sending a message to the remainder of the league.
The Knicks set the tone early, main 18-16 with 4:30 left within the first quarter earlier than closing the interval on an 18-8 run. By halftime, they’d constructed a commanding lead, due to a 40-point second quarter, and their protection held Denver to simply 29 factors within the body.
The offensive firepower was a stark distinction to their earlier outing, a disappointing loss to the Utah Jazz through which they managed solely 106 factors. This time, the Knicks made a press release, leaving little doubt about their intentions as contenders.
Whereas Anunoby stole the present, he wasn’t alone in his heroics. Cities delivered a masterpiece, ending with 30 factors, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists on an ultra-efficient 12-of-15 capturing evening. Cities’ floor-spacing and flexibility have been pivotal for New York’s offense, and his chemistry with Jalen Brunson continues to blossom.
Brunson, in the meantime, has continued his playmaking spree, ending with 23 factors and a career-high 17 assists. Monday evening’s efficiency marked the fourth of his final 5 video games with 10 or extra assists.
Russell Westbrook got here off the bench to attain 27 factors on 9-of-16 capturing, together with 4-of-7 from deep. Whereas his late-game surge made issues momentarily fascinating, the Nuggets by no means really threatened the Knicks, who gained all 4 quarters individually.
The Knicks tallied 45 whole workforce assists and dedicated simply 9 turnovers — a feat no workforce had achieved since 1991.
With momentum on their facet, the Knicks now face a brand new problem: a matchup with the reigning Western Convention champion Dallas Mavericks. For Brunson, it’s a return to the workforce the place he blossomed right into a star. However this time, the stakes are completely different.
The Mavericks, lacking Luka Doncic as a consequence of a wrist pressure, will lean closely on former Nets guard Kyrie Irving. Irving will probably draw the defensive consideration of Anunoby, whose sizzling streak on offense and lockdown protection could possibly be the important thing to securing one other highway win.
