THE New York Knicks are starting to become the defensive glove they were over a month ago. They dominated the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night with a 106-79 victory, an emphatic victory in the team’s long-awaited return. OG Anunoby. It was the third straight game in which New York held its opponent to fewer than 80 points, and they are 2-1 in that span.
It was also the first time since the 2000-01 season that the Knicks accomplished such a feat, according to the The Knicks PR team on
Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa stand out in this recent footage
Some of the standout performers during this recent stretch have been Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa, both of whom saw their playing time increase significantly amid injuries to Anunoby and Julius Randle.
In her last three games, Achiuwa has posted a defensive rating of 81.8, which places her at the top of the entire NBA over this period. During this short stretch of games, he is also averaging over 10 rebounds, three blocks and a steal per game, showcasing his defensive tenacity as he continues to be a revelation during his tenure with the Knicks.
Hart, meanwhile, has hit his stride after a tough first half of the season. Over the last three games, Hart is averaging 16/12/5 with an 89.8 defensive rating and has recorded four triple-doubles this season. Hart and Achiuwa are also two of five Knicks players with a defensive rating below 91.0 in the last three games.
With Anunoby back, the Knicks can be dangerous defensively
With Anunoby back in the lineup, New York is poised to once again become a heavyweight on the defensive side of the ball down the stretch of the season, especially with the rest of the team stepping up their play.
The Knicks hold the second-best net rating in the NBA when Anunoby plays, compared to just 18th without him. New York is also 13-2 with Anunoby, and with a big West Coast trip coming up, the Knicks can prove once again that they’re not easy in the East.
