By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In the final days of 2023, British forward OG Anunoby left the Toronto Raptors after almost seven years and joined the New York Knicks in a trade alongside Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, while RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley moved to the Canadian team.
The London-born swingman didn’t wait long to debut in front of the audience in the legendary Madison Square Garden, immediately showcasing his skills for Tom Thibodeau’s side in a 112-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Anunoby finished the game as the second-leading scorer of the winning team with 17 points and 3-6 shooting from beyond the arc. He also fouled out after 35 minutes on the court, displaying great desire with an aggressive defense in his first game with the Knicks.
Knicks got the W in OG Anunoby’s debut 💪
OG: 17 PTS, 6 REB pic.twitter.com/xpi93ehLT7
— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2024
Still, it was Julius Randle who excelled and led the hosts to the 18th win of the season over the Western Conference leaders, scoring a game-high 39 points with nine boards.
Jalen Brunson had some trouble shooting, hitting only five out of 23 shots, but he still found a way to contribute, finishing the match with a double-double of 16 points and 14 assists.
Donte DiVincenzo followed with 15 points, while Quentin Grimes added 10 points. Achiuwa went scoreless in his debut, grabbing three rebounds.
Anthony Edwards led the Minneapolis team with 35 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns followed with 29. However, it was only Rudy Gobert who followed them with double digits, recording another double-double with 10 points and 15 boards, as Minnesota fell to 24-8 in the season.