Friday night in Philadelphia wasn’t OG Anunoby’s best showing - not by a long shot. In a game where the Knicks fell by nine to the Sixers, Anunoby struggled mightily, finishing with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting.
And it wasn’t just the offense. Defensively, he didn’t make the kind of impact Knicks fans have come to expect from one of the league’s most versatile wings.
Still, head coach Mike Brown wasn’t ready to pin the poor outing solely on Anunoby. In fact, he pointed to something that’s been a recurring frustration around the league: the inconsistency of foul calls.
“I thought he was aggressive on his drives, he didn’t get any calls,” Brown said postgame. “It’s a weird game and the officials, they got a tough job - but I don’t know if I’ll ever understand what’s a foul and what’s not.”
Brown went on to explain that Anunoby’s strength might actually be working against him. “OG is a big, strong guy.
When he drives, he’s not flopping, he’s trying to attack the rim. He’s getting rerouted on his drive, but he can’t seem to get a call.”
It’s a tough balance. Anunoby’s physical style is part of what makes him effective, but when that aggression isn’t rewarded - and when the shots aren’t falling - it can lead to a night like this one.
Kolek Comes Back Down to Earth
Rookie guard Tyler Kolek had been stringing together some promising performances, but Friday was a reminder that development isn’t linear. In 15 minutes off the bench, Kolek finished with just two points, two assists, four turnovers, and five fouls - a stat line that reflects a rough night on both ends.
These are the growing pains that come with trusting young players in real minutes. Kolek’s vision and pace have flashed in recent games, but against a physical, veteran-laden Sixers squad, he looked a step behind.
Mitchell Robinson’s Free Throw Fix?
One bright spot for the Knicks came at the free throw line - and yes, it involved Mitchell Robinson. Long known for his struggles at the stripe, Robinson hit 7-of-8 free throws on Friday, a significant improvement that he credits to a mechanical tweak and a new routine.
“We’ve just been working on a lot of arc on the free throws,” Robinson said. “We went in there this morning actually, like 10 AM, but it paid off tonight. So I guess we’re gonna put that in the routine now.”
He also mentioned a change in form: “It feels way more comfortable. Getting my elbow under it.
Getting it up in the air a little more. It’s been great.”
It’s a small sample size, but if Robinson can even become a serviceable free-throw shooter, it changes how opponents can defend him late in games - and it gives the Knicks a bit more flexibility in crunch time.
A Letdown, but Not a Collapse
The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for New York, and while no team likes to lose, this one might have been written in the stars. Just 24 hours earlier, the Knicks had gutted out a win in Indiana - shorthanded and fresh off their NBA Cup triumph. Fatigue was always going to be a factor.
“These guys are human,” Brown said. “But at the end of the day, we try to pride ourselves on being a no-excuse team.
We’re gonna go out and play to the highest possible standard, or the highest possible level. Most times, we’ll probably have it, but tonight we didn’t.”
It’s the kind of loss that doesn’t raise red flags - more a reminder of the grind that is the NBA regular season. You win seven straight, you’re due for a clunker, especially on the second night of a back-to-back.
McBride Progressing, But Not Back Yet
As for Miles McBride, the guard is doing on-court work but still hasn’t practiced since suffering an ankle sprain. The Knicks haven’t held a full practice or shootaround since Monday, so there’s been limited opportunity for him to ramp up.
The Knicks will hope to get him back soon, especially as the schedule continues to test their depth. But for now, it’s about managing the minutes, staying healthy, and keeping that competitive edge sharp - even on the nights when the shots don’t fall and the legs are heavy.