OG Anunoby recorded 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson added 23 as the New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden in their season opener.
The win marked the first under new head coach Mike Brown, who replaced Tom Thibodeau in the offseason after the franchise’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, helping New York close strong after surrendering a 17-point first-half lead.
Donovan Mitchell paced Cleveland with 31 points, including 21 in the third quarter, as the Cavaliers briefly took control before New York’s decisive response. A 14-0 Knicks surge early in the fourth quarter turned an 89-85 deficit into a 99-89 lead that they would not relinquish.
Evan Mobley had 22 points and eight rebounds for Cleveland, which opened last season with 15 straight victories on the way to a 64-18 record — the best in the Eastern Conference. This time, the Cavaliers struggled to contain New York’s size and second-chance opportunities, getting outrebounded 48-32.
Anunoby’s presence on both ends stood out in his first full season with New York. He connected on 9 of 17 field goals and limited Mitchell during key possessions in the final minutes. Brunson attacked consistently despite going just 1 of 9 from beyond the arc, making 12 of 13 free throws to steady the offense.
Mikal Bridges scored 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting, while reserve guard Landry Shamet provided 15 off the bench, hitting four three-pointers to stretch the Cavaliers’ defense. The Knicks shot 43 percent overall and 35 percent from deep, while converting 31 of 36 free throws.
The Cavaliers entered short-handed, with All-Star guard Darius Garland and forward Max Strus sidelined after offseason foot surgeries. Sixth man De’Andre Hunter also missed the contest with a bruised right knee. The absences tested Cleveland’s depth, forcing rookie Jaylon Tyson and veteran Sam Merrill into extended minutes.
Jarrett Allen finished with four points and four rebounds in 28 minutes, while Tyson added five points. Merrill scored 19, connecting on five three-pointers.
As a team, Cleveland shot 46.5 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from three but managed only 12 free-throw attempts.
Brown’s debut emphasized pace and spacing, with the Knicks generating 22 assists on 37 made shots.
