The New York Knicks shocked the world on Wednesday night when they pulled off a historic 29-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
While Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson are the biggest names in the series, Knicks forward OG Anunoby became a Knicks legend on Wednesday.
TOP NEWS
When it comes to the Finals MVP, most people will look to those bigger names, but Anunoby’s consistent play and fantastic efficiency give him a very strong case
New York may have struggled as a team in the first half of Game 4, but Anunoby was in rhythm from start to finish. He managed to score 14 of the Knicks’ 49 first-half points.
The second half became one of the most memorable comebacks in NBA history, in part due to Anunoby’s tremendous play on both ends of the floor.
On offense, he was putting up loads of points on very few shots. dropping in all three of his long-range attempts in the third quarter.
Defensively, he proved once again why he’s considered one of the best defenders in the league.
He guided the Knicks to an impressive second half on that end of the floor, disrupting Victor Wembanyama’s offensive rhythm while making near-perfect rotations to guard other perimeter players.
In the fourth, he played a major role in the offense alongside Brunson as New York continued to climb back into it.
After going 3-for-3 in the final frame, Anunoby made the best defensive play of his career with a crucial chasedown block on De’Aaron Fox in the final seconds.
Moments later, he came skying in for a tip-in game-winner off of Brunson’s missed three-pointer. The hustle play completed one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.
He finished the matchup with 33 points and four rebounds on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
Anunoby’s FMVP case doesn’t rely on one performance, as he’s been a consistent contributor all series. He’s currently averaging 23.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and one steal through the first four games.
What may be most impressive about his play thus far is his efficiency scoring the ball. He’s shooting a red-hot 58.0% from the field and 55.6% from three in this series.
He may not take home the FMVP trophy in the end, especially if Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns take over in Game 5. But Anunoby’s impact on this series might be unmatched thus far.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
