NBA: Anunoby has storng debut as Knicks beat Timberwolves

New York Knicks ahead OG Anunoby dunks the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves middle Rudy Gobert (27) in the course of the first half of an NBA basketball recreation Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New York. (AP Picture/Adam Starvation)

NEW YORK — OG Anunoby acquired a pleasant ovation as he walked to the bench after fouling out of his sturdy debut with the New York Knicks.

Julius Randle made certain the followers had been nonetheless cheering on the finish.

Randle scored 39 factors, Anunoby had 17 in his first recreation together with his new staff and the Knicks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-106 within the NBA on Monday.

Jalen Brunson added 16 factors and a career-high 14 assists for the Knicks, who snapped a three-game dropping streak after placing Anunoby into the beginning lineup for his first recreation since coming from Toronto in Saturday’s commerce that despatched RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors.

Anunoby solely arrived Sunday and was nonetheless having issues defined to him in the course of the recreation, however went 7 for 12 from the sector and helped the Knicks ship a stable defensive effort towards the Western Convention leaders.

“I believed first recreation, spectacular, actually simply to be prepared and to type of determine it out like on the fly,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated.

Knicks obtained the W in OG Anunoby’s debut 💪

OG: 17 PTS, 6 REB pic.twitter.com/xpi93ehLT7

— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2024

The Timberwolves minimize a 22-point deficit right down to 4 halfway by way of the fourth quarter, however Randle rescued the Knicks by scoring their subsequent 11 factors, together with a three-point play that made it 110-102 with 23 seconds remaining.

Anthony Edwards scored 35 factors, his third straight recreation above 30. Karl-Anthony Cities snapped out of a latest scoring hunch with 29, however the Wolves had a dismal second quarter after making 10 of their first 15 photographs in begin to the sport.

“I believed our vitality simply type of dipped,” coach Chris Finch stated. “I believed our begin to the sport was good, we made some photographs, we obtained just a few stops, however I didn’t assume our vitality was tremendous excessive and it type of maintained that stage. They discovered one other gear and we didn’t reply.”

The Knicks outscored the Wolves 38-17 within the second quarter to take a 61-49 lead, then broke it open with an 8-0 run within the third that gave them a 19-point benefit.

Donte DiVincenzo and Anunoby hit consecutive 3-pointers to offer the Knicks their largest lead at 83-61 later within the quarter, and it was 94-78 headed to the fourth.

Shortly earlier than the sport, DiVincenzo seemed to be declaring some issues to Anunoby because the Knicks had been warming up.

“Even in the course of the recreation, they had been telling me: ‘Go right here. Do that,’” Anunoby stated of his new teammates. “They had been serving to me out for certain, plenty of them and I’m grateful for it.”

Minnesota scored the primary 10 of the ultimate interval to make it a six-point recreation earlier than Anunoby’s 3-pointer from the nook stopped the run. The Wolves saved coming, however Randle wouldn’t allow them to come all the way in which again.

He acknowledged after the sport that it felt completely different taking part in with out longtime teammates Barrett and Quickley.

“However that’s a part of the league,” Randle stated, “simply change and adjustment.”

Anunoby stated he arrived in New York on Sunday and had been attempting to study a few of the Knicks’ performs and terminologies they use. He can change into a free agent after the season, however wasn’t prepared to consider his future together with his current so unsettled.

“I’ve to seek out out the place to reside,” he stated earlier than the sport. “I don’t know something. I’m simply attempting to determine it out.”

NEXT SCHEDULE

Timberwolves: Host New Orleans on Wednesday.

Knicks: Host Chicago on Wednesday.