OG Anunoby did not come near replicating his Knicks masterpiece in Recreation 2

Followers and media alike have been singing OG Anunoby’s praises after Recreation 1.

However the model of Anunoby who took the court docket within the Knicks’ 100-94 Recreation 2 loss on Monday didn’t look like as assertive as his staff wants him to be to be able to achieve success.

Anunoby went 4-for-10 from the sector and 0-for-4 from deep for 10 factors on an evening when Jalen Brunson’s supporting solid failed him on offense.

Anunoby additionally had 5 rebounds, two assists and two steals in 42 minutes.

Anunoby’s protection is what’s most essential.

However as seen in Recreation 1, his offense generally is a difference-maker.

Anunoby mentioned his mentality didn’t change from Recreation 1 to 2.

He might have taken eight fewer photographs than he did within the Knicks win on Saturday, however that was due to “how the sport went.”

“It doesn’t matter what, I’m all the time making an attempt to be aggressive,” Anunoby mentioned.

Anunoby was one of many gamers tasked with making an attempt to gradual Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who had a tricky playoff debut Saturday.

In Recreation 1, it appeared like Anunoby & Co. did the whole lot proper.

They made it as troublesome as doable for Cunningham to attain.

As quickly because the 2021 No. 1 total choose had the ball in his hand, the strain was on.

Total, the Knicks have been profitable in opposition to Cunningham within the sequence opener as a result of they pressured him into robust photographs.

However after scoring 21 factors on 21 photographs Saturday, Cunningham had his means for many of Monday evening en path to ending with 33 factors and 12 rebounds.

“They have been operating stuff to get me off of his physique,” Anunoby mentioned of what the Pistons have been doing otherwise Monday to permit Cunningham to settle into his sport. “Setting screens to get me off of him, doing stuff like that. They made some changes, we’re gonna make some changes ourselves.”

Certain, even the perfect gamers have off nights.

However the Knicks — who aren’t practically as scary of a title contender as they’d hoped to be after they made large offseason strikes — want extra from Anunoby than what he confirmed Monday evening, particularly on offense.

The Pistons gained Monday’s sport by attending to the free throw line 15 extra occasions than the Knicks.

However Detroit additionally outrebounded New York 48-34.

“Generally we have been out of place just a little bit,” Josh Hart mentioned. “Gotta give them credit score, they hit the glass onerous, however we simply received to come back down with these rebounds, particularly within the playoffs, the place each possession issues. You bought to complete possessions the fitting means, you bought to get further possession on the offensive facet, and that’s one thing that we didn’t do at present.”