OG Anunoby delivered one of the biggest stretches of New York’s NBA Finals opener on Wednesday night, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 at Frost Bank Center.
After the game, Anunoby credited his teammates and a simple mindset for helping him take over during the closing minutes.
“Just my teammates finding me and just being aggressive, being ready to shoot,” Anunoby said. “Shooting with confidence and yeah.”
The forward’s late scoring burst helped New York extend its playoff winning streak to 12 games. The Knicks closed the game on an 11-0 run and stole home-court advantage in the series.
Anunoby finished 5-for-12 from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range. While his overall scoring line was important, the timing of his offense proved even more valuable. His fourth-quarter production gave New York another scoring option alongside Jalen Brunson, who scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the final period.
The Knicks have built a reputation throughout the postseason for responding to adversity. They came back from a 14-point deficit in Game 1 after previously overcoming large deficits against both Philadelphia and Cleveland earlier in the playoffs.
The All-NBA guard added that the Knicks never look for one possession to erase a deficit.
New York’s supporting cast also played a major role. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Josh Hart contributed just three points but grabbed 15 rebounds and recorded six assists.
For Anunoby, the victory also marked another milestone in his career. After winning an NBA championship with Toronto in 2019 while sidelined because of injury, he is now playing meaningful minutes on the Finals stage.
Asked what was going through his mind before his first Finals game as an active participant, Anunoby kept his answer brief.
“Just thankful to be out there,” he said. “Thankful to be playing with my teammates, the coaches, just enjoying the moment.”
The Knicks now hold a 1-0 lead in the series and are three wins away from the franchise’s first NBA championship since 1973.
