Knicks’ OG Anunoby’s late-game gaffes spoil early heroics in fourth

OG Anunoby was enduring one other of these quiet offensive video games he produces once in a while, when the Knicks defensive stopper appeared to nail two of the most important photographs of Recreation 1 in opposition to the Pacers, igniting a 14-0 Knicks run to assist them construct a 17-point lead within the fourth quarter.

However Anunoby additionally contributed to the Knicks’ full meltdown within the crushing 138-135 extra time loss Wednesday evening that left them and the hushed Backyard shell-shocked.

Anunoby was one in all a number of Knicks to overlook a key free throw within the closing minute of regulation and he additionally dedicated a turnover in OT to negate the thunderous chants of “OG, OG” he had heard earlier within the fourth quarter from the MSG crowd.

“They made photographs and we didn’t. We made some errors, missed some free throws,” Anunoby mentioned after the sport. “They made a bunch of photographs in a row and we went a bit bit chilly at the moment. It simply occurred like that.”

With the Knicks clinging to a two-point lead about two minutes into the ultimate quarter, Anunoby buried a 3-point shot after which sank a driving bucket in site visitors on the Knicks’ subsequent possession to increase the cushion to seven.

The MSG crowd adopted with a loud chant in assist of Anunoby, who solely had totaled six factors by way of the primary three quarters earlier than netting 9 within the fourth and extra time to complete with 16 on 6-for-15 capturing in 42 minutes.

Minutes later, led by some sturdy defensive performs by Miles McBride and a scoring burst by Karl-Anthony Cities, the Knicks have been up 111-94 with underneath seven minutes remaining.

However Aaron Nesmith did his greatest Reggie Miller impression with six 3-pointers and 20 factors within the quarter to steer Indy all the way in which again, with Tyrese Haliburton sinking the game-tying jumper along with his foot on the 3-point line on the finish of regulation.

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Anunoby, who additionally completed with three steals and three blocked photographs, added one other layup within the fourth quarter earlier than scoring two extra factors within the additional session.

The loss dropped the Knicks to 2-5 in these playoffs when Anunoby scores fewer than 20 factors in a sport — together with a 1-for-12 capturing efficiency in Recreation 5 in Boston — in comparison with a 6-0 mark when he registers at the very least 20.

The 27-year-old Anunoby, who performed collegiately at Indiana, was one in all a number of Knicks regulars to overlook video games in final 12 months’s second-round loss to the Pacers. He suffered a painful hamstring damage in Recreation 2 and sat out the subsequent 4 video games.

Anunoby tried to play and began Recreation 7 on the Backyard, however he needed to come out of the sport after 5 minutes of motion.

“You possibly can’t actually take into consideration that,” Anunoby mentioned. “Simply transfer ahead and it’s one other alternative.

“Nobody ever needs to not be wholesome. It’s a part of the common preparation I do. But in addition, a bit little bit of luck. And taking good care of my physique and consuming proper and consuming effectively.”