OG Anunoby emphasized New York’s toughness and preparation after the Knicks closed out a physical first-round series with a 116-113 Game 6 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters postgame, the forward reflected on the tight nature of the matchup, where four of six games were decided by three points or fewer.
“Every game went to crunch time,” Anunoby said. “It’s a pretty physical series. The refs are letting us play.”
New York secured the win behind Jalen Brunson’s 40-point night and a game-winning three-pointer with 4.3 seconds left, which Anunoby said he never doubted.
“I thought it was going in the whole time,” he said. “He’s just a great player.”
Asked if Brunson’s snatchback move was something rehearsed in practice, Anunoby responded, “I think he works on everything. He goes to whatever he’s comfortable with.”
Anunoby contributed 22 points on 6-of-14 shooting, adding five rebounds and hitting four three-pointers in over 44 minutes of action.
The Knicks turned the game around with a dominant 37-point third quarter, which Anunoby attributed to halftime adjustments focused on pace and energy.
“Just coming out with energy, playing with pace, getting stops and running, and then taking good shots,” he said.
New York began the game aggressively, jumping out to a 37-23 lead in the first quarter before Detroit stormed back.
“We always want to start fast,” Anunoby added. “We never want to be slow or stagnant.”
The Pistons went up by five in the fourth quarter, but the Knicks responded with timely buckets and crucial defensive stops.
“We’re a resilient team,” Anunoby said. “We knew they were going to try, and they went on a little run. Then we went on our run.”
Anunoby also detailed the mental and physical toll of defending Detroit’s screening schemes, calling for constant awareness and adaptation.
“You’ve got to be aware where the screen’s coming from,” he said. “Just trying to get through it or get around it and then play defense.”
Despite Cade Cunningham’s 23-point effort, Anunoby limited the Pistons star’s perimeter impact, holding him to 0-of-8 from beyond the arc.
“Just trying to make it as difficult as I can,” he said. “I guess having more time to prepare and lock in.”
With the series now behind them, the Knicks will prepare to face the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals starting Monday.
“They’re a great team,” Anunoby said. “We’re going to watch the film and prepare. They won the championship last year.”
New York advances to the second round for the second straight season, now one step closer to its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years.
