OG Anunoby gets a monstrous reaction from Mike Brown after the win
Mike Brown he could not hide his admiration for And the Anunobi after New York Knicks opened the 2025-26 season victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“OG was a monster … he was our defensive player of the game,” Brown said after the game. “He guarded multiple guys tonight, and his energy on both ends set the tone for us.”
Anunoby was truly everywhere, finishing with 24 points and 14 rebounds in a dominant two-way performance that led the Knicks to a 119-111 victory over the Cavs on Wednesday night.
🏀 FINAL RESULTS ON WEDNESDAY 🏀
OG Anunoby’s double-double and defensive efforts are driving it @niknicks at 1-0!
Jalen Brunson: 23 PTS, 5 AST
Karl-Anthony Towns: 19 PTS, 11 REB
Mikal Bridges: 16 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK
Myles McBride: 15 points, 4 3 p.m pic.tvitter.com/LdvgPjmcEZ— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2025
His defensive versatility was key in keeping Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in check, while his rebounding activity created multiple second chances for New York.
The night marked a new era for the Knicks, their first game under Mike Brown since the sudden firing of Tom Thibodeau in the offseason, and the team wasted no time in making an impact.
Jaylen Branson scored 23 points and Karl-Antonius Towns added 19 points and 11 reboundsas the Knicks displayed a balanced offense and renewed defensive intensity under their new coach.
New York jumped out to a 17-point lead in the first half, only to see it disappear as Mitchell fueled Cleveland’s third-quarter comeback. But with the game on the line, the Knicks’ defense was muted and their stars came through, led by Anunoby’s relentless effort and Brown’s sharp adjustments.
A 14-0 run early in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for a Knicks team determined to continue last season’s Eastern Conference Finals run.
“OG’s influence doesn’t always show in boxing, but tonight it did,” Brown said. “When you have someone who can defend multiple positions like that and still give you 24 and 14, it changes everything. He and KAT really anchored us tonight.”
The Knicks will now look to carry that momentum into their Friday opener against the Boston Celtics, where Brown will get another chance to test his new defensive identity against one of the league’s most explosive offenses.
2025-10-23 12:06:00
