OG Anunoby torches Raptors as red-hot Knicks keep rolling

A week shy of the anniversary of the transformative trade that landed OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa in New York at the end of 2024, the Knicks had no problem taking care of a sinking Raptors team that has the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference .

A near-flawless Anunoby and the surging Knicks posted their ninth win in their last 11 games heading into a Christmas matinee against Victor Wembanyama and the improving Spurs, pulling away in the second quarter Monday night after a sluggish start for a 139-125 win over Toronto by the Garden.

Anunoby registered 31 points on a sizzling 13-for-15 shooting performance — making his first 11 shots — and he finished with a plus-25 rating against his former team.

“OG was a monster,” Josh Hart said after the game. “Offensively, when he was knocking down shots – mid-range, post, 3s, he did a little bit of everything.

“And then he obviously did what he does on the defensive end. We have good vibes right now and we just have to continue that every game.”

Karl-Anthony Towns also turned in another strong overall game with 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out, making up for a quiet scoring night from Jalen Brunson, who finished with 12 (4-for-13) along with seven assists.

Veteran guard Landry Shamet played just the final 1:20 of his Knicks debut late in the game after rehabbing a preseason shoulder injury, and the expected bench hit his first 3-pointer of the season. But reserve guard Cam Payne scored 11 of his season-high 19 in a 40-24 second-quarter outburst for the Knicks (19-10).

RJ Barrett, traded by the Knicks to his hometown team for now-injured Immanuel Quickley (elbow) in the Anunoby trade last Dec. 30, scored 23 points and Scottie Barnes had 24 as the skidding Raptors (7-23) ) dropped their eight games in a row.

Anunoby threw down an assortment of dunks and was 4-for-6 from 3-point range after entering the game on a 17-for-50 shooting slump over his previous four appearances while also wearing surgical tape over his repaired left elbow in Saturday’s win at New Orleans.

“Just normal things that guys go through during the season,” Tom Thibodeau said of Anunoby. “When you play, you get hit. Things happen, but he plays really well.

“Just keep doing all the things he does, the defense, and he can play at a really high level even when he’s not shooting well. We know he’s one of the best shooters in the league. So ultimately it will be there.”

Brunson was held scoreless in the first quarter, missing four attempts from the floor and two from the free throw line.

But Miles McBride (12 points) came off the bench to hit two 3-pointers in his first minute on the floor and Payne buried another from deep as the Knicks held a 30-28 edge through one quarter.

An inside bucket by Barrett pushed the Raptors ahead early in the second, but Payne hit two more treys and a traditional 3-point play amid a 15-2 run for an 11-point Knicks cushion. Towns also converted an and-1 and Anunoby had a dunk in the spurt.

“Great energy (after the first quarter), we got stops and then Cam and Deuce came in and changed the game,” Anunoby said. “It’s still weird playing against them, but it’s always nice to see those people.”

Payne made his fourth 3-pointer of the half and Hart went up-and-under for a reverse layup to extend the advantage to 14.

The Knicks led by as many as 21 — and they won the quarter by 16 — for a 70-52 halftime lead, despite Brunson managing just three points on three late free throws.

A long outlet pass from Towns to Anunoby for a dunk and two OG jumpers pushed the Knicks’ advantage to 31 late in the third, and they trailed 111-82 heading into the final quarter.

“OG was everywhere,” Brunson said. “I’ve seen the plays where he guards one through five and he ends up with a steal, a block, a rebound. It happens … often.”