The energy at Madison Square Garden changed in an instant.
One moment, the Knicks were battling the Los Angeles Lakers, their defensive ace smothering LeBron James while knocking down threes on the other end.
The next, silence.
OG Anunoby planted his right foot awkwardly in transition with under 90 seconds left in the third quarter, took a knee, and didn’t get back up.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau immediately called timeout, and Anunoby’s matchup, LeBron James, unable to stop his momentum, lightly bumped into him before Anunoby cursed in frustration to his injury.
James, a player who has largely defied major injuries for 22 NBA seasons, took a moment to check in on his opponent. Karl-Anthony Towns followed suit, offering words of encouragement as the weight of the moment set in.
The Knicks quickly ruled Anunoby out with a right foot sprain.
But if the concerned expressions on his teammates’ faces were any indication, it could be something worse.
And with their defensive anchor out, the Lakers smelled blood.
Before the injury, Anunoby was dominating both ends. He had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, 3-of-4 from deep, and was playing as good of a defense as possible on the Lakers’ superstar forward.
James, sensing his usual mismatches weren’t there, played the facilitator role early, racking up six first-half assists and searching for better matchups.
Then the Knicks lost their best defender.
And The King went hunting.
Precious Achiuwa? Not quick enough.
Josh Hart? Too small.
Karl-Anthony Towns? Too slow.
Mikal Bridges? Locked in on Austin Reaves, who finished with 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
With nobody left to stop him, James took over. He torched the Knicks for 33 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds on 14-of-26 shooting.
Already carrying an extra load with Anthony Davis sidelined indefinitely, James shifted into attack mode once Anunoby left the game.
“Obviously [the game plan] starts with LeBron, but they’re a lot more than just that,” Thibodeau said before tipoff. “When you look at the way [Austin] Reaves can play, off the dribble, he complements LeBron.
“So they have a number of weapons — and LeBron’s ability to make everyone better. It’s a huge test.”
It was a test the Knicks couldn’t pass without Anunoby.
Even in Year 22, LeBron’s dominance continues to defy logic.
Saturday’s performance reinforced his standing as the second player in NBA history—alongside Karl Malone—to record a triple-double at age 40 or older.
“It speaks to who he is and his career. Twenty-one years to do it the way he’s done it, everywhere he’s been, if he’s on the team they’re a threat. So [the Lakers] always have a chance,” Thibodeau said ahead of tipoff on Saturday. “Obviously Anthony Davis is a huge part of that as well. Just the way he can bring the best up, not only out of himself but the people who are around him. The kid Max Christie is having a heck of a year for them, as well. He’s an all-around player. So we have to be ready for him. It’s a dangerous team.”
Despite a balanced offensive effort, the Knicks couldn’t recover from losing their defensive glue.
All five starters scored in double figures, and the bench gave them production: Achiuwa finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Miles McBride added 12 points with three 3s off the bench.
But Jalen Brunson (17 points, seven assists) had an off night by his standards, and Towns continues to struggle offensively while managing a right thumb injury. The All-Star starting center finished with just 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists in 35 minutes, while also battling foul trouble.
The Knicks came into Saturday as the hottest team in basketball, riding a five-game winning streak.
Now, they face immediate adversity.
Anunoby’s injury looms large, and the schedule doesn’t let up.
Next up? The Western Conference’s second-seeded Houston Rockets visit The Garden on Monday night.
If Anunoby is sidelined long-term, the Knicks will have to find a way to stop one of the league’s most athletic and dynamic offenses—without their best defensive weapon.
