OG Whiz! Clutch Anunoby Helps Knicks Escape Hawks

Anunoby, however, stole the show in the final minutes despite hitting only three field goals: four clutch free throws from his hands created the final margin and the trips sandwiched a robbery of Young that interrupted a would-be go-ahead possession for Atlanta.

The Knicks (22-9) led for most of Saturday’s game but required Anunoby and Co. to come through big after surrendering a lead that summitted at 18. Control was seemingly established with a 19-8 run over the final half of the second period, one that saw the Knicks score the final eight points of the frame. Early threes in the third from Brunson and Mohamed Diawara (starting in pace of the injured Josh Hart) kept the momentum rolling and the Knicks led by nine at the end of the first trio despite an Onyeka Okongwu breakout.

Desperate to end a five-game losing streak, Atlanta used its deep game to stay alive, hitting 17 with an extra point on the line. It still trailed by 10 as the game inched toward the seven-minute mark but a late onslaught from Okongwu and Nickiel Alexander-Walker bit into the New York lead. Okongwu’s last two triples sandwiched an alley-oop layup from Jalen Johnson to Dyson Daniels.

Fortunately for the Knicks, Brunson sank consecutive baskets to ensure that Atlanta’s new lead would not advance beyond a possession. Alexander-Walker did get the Hawks (15-18) back ahead in the final minute by turning a steal from Brunson into a goaltended layup before Okongwu’s final foul set up Anunoby’s heroics.

The win moved the Knicks back to .500 this season while Atlanta was doomed to its sixth straight loss. Okongwu fell one short of his career-high with 31 points before his enforced departure while Alexander-Walker had 25 off the bench despite missing an equalizer just before the buzzer. Young had 10 assists but shot 2-of-10 from the field with five turnovers and drew boos from invading Knicks fan throughout the evening.

Atlanta won’t have to wait long to plan revenge as both teams will ring in 2026 together at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. In the meantime, the middle part of this year-ending road trip lands on Monday night when the Knicks hit Bourbon Street to face the New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m. ET, MSG).