Og Anunoby Helps Knicks Take 3-2 Lead With 126-97 Win

og anunoby helped the Knicks turn Tuesday into a 126-97 rout of the Hawks, and New York now leads the series 3-2. The win left the Knicks one victory away from the second round and gave them a second straight blowout against Atlanta.

Anunoby’s value in plain sight

His impact goes beyond the scoreline. Anunoby’s versatility has caused problems for the Hawks, and his case as an elite defender has been reinforced by the fact that he was included on the writer’s All-Defensive First Team.

That recognition sits next to a strange resume line for a player this important: he has never made an All-Star appearance. He has also appeared on just one All-Defensive team because injuries have limited him.

Knicks lean on a steady hand

The broader picture around him is just as stark. Anunoby is the second-highest-paid player on the Knicks, even above Jalen Brunson, and his fit has made him unusually portable in a league that often bends around stars. The article describes him as one of the best players who could fit on all 30 teams without disrupting either side of the floor.

That reputation was echoed in front-office talk. When his name came up in an All-Defensive discussion, one team executive said, “Well, of course,” and another replied, “Oh, yeah,” before adding, “That guy is ridiculous.”

Atlanta felt the pressure

The Hawks did not find a way through that coverage on Tuesday, and the 126-97 final gave New York its second consecutive blowout victory in the series. For Atlanta, the margin left little room to settle the game early or slow the Knicks’ momentum once it started.

New York goes home needing one more win to close out the series and move on. For the Knicks, the next step is simple: keep the defensive edge that has made Anunoby such a difficult problem and finish the job before the matchup shifts again.