OG Anunoby’s bothersome left ankle seems just fine.
The star Knicks wing injured the ankle in the second-to-last game of the regular season and sat out the finale, but didn’t slow him down in the Knicks playoff opener, even though he tweaked it Saturday.
“It’s OK,” he said. “I just rolled it; it just happened.”
This was classic Anunoby, making an impact at both ends of the floor, as the Knicks topped the Hawks 113-102 at the Garden.
Anunoby scored 19 points, added eight rebounds and helped shut down Atlanta after halftime as the Knicks broke open a close game with a dominant second half. The Hawks managed just 47 points over the final two quarters as they were outscored by nine.
Og Anunoby reacts after he puts up a three-point shot during the second quarter on April 18, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Anunoby enjoyed a solid second season as a Knick, averaging 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists, and shooting 38.6 percent from 3-point range. He appeared in 67 games. This time of year, however, is what’s most important. Keeping him healthy is essential for the Knicks if they want to return to the Eastern Conference final.
He’s one of their best all-around players, a critical cog on the defensive end. They went 45-22 during the regular season this year with him on the floor.
On Saturday, he was efficient, shooting 6-for-9 from the field and hitting two 3-pointers, while playing his usual lockdown defense. With Anunoby on the court, the Knicks outscored the Hawks by nine. The only Knick with a better rating was Miles McBride, who was a plus-12 in 21 minutes.
Og Anunoby slams the ball during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
What’s happening on and off the Garden court
Sign up for Inside the Knicks by Stefan Bondy, a weekly exclusive on Sports+.
Thank you
“I think I played good. I could always be better,” Anunoby said.
Asked where he would like to improve for Game 2, Anunoby responded: “Everything.”
It was a very good start for the Knicks, who, aside from some brief slippage late in the fourth quarter, had their way with the Hawks in the first game of the series. Anunoby was a big part of that, as a scoring complement to Jalen Brunson and a defensive linchpin.
“OG hit some big shots,” coach Mike Brown said after picking up his first playoff win as Knicks coach.