OG Anunoby delivers in debut as Knicks topple Wolves - ESPN

NEW YORK — It took no time at all for OG Anunoby to make his impact felt on the New York Knicks.

The forward finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds in 35 minutes in his Knicks debut, helping New York to a 112-106 matinee victory over the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves Monday afternoon. The Knicks acquired Anunoby in a trade with the Toronto Raptors on Saturday in exchange for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley

«I felt good,» Anunoby said after the win. «I felt good. Just trying to help the team on both ends. Just talking to guys on defense and them talking to me, helping know where to be, and stuff. Felt good.»

Anunoby, 26, is one of the league's premier «3-and-D» players, having led the league in steals and making the All-Defensive second team last season while shooting in the high 30s from 3-point range on six attempts per game over the past four seasons.

In this game, he found himself matched up almost exclusively with Anthony Edwards, one of the league's best wing scorers, while his first shot as a Knick — which he made — was a corner 3-pointer. He went on to finish 7-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-6 from 3, to go along with an assist and a block before fouling out with four minutes to go in Monday's win.

Making his performance even more impressive was his admission that, after spending New Year's Eve alone in his hotel room preparing for this game, he was still learning what he needed to do up until tipoff, and even during the game, as his teammates were helping him get up to speed on the fly throughout the contest.

«Even during the game, they were telling me, 'Go here. Do this.'» Anunoby said with a smile. «Yeah, they were helping me out for sure, a lot of them. And I'm thankful for it.»

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