OG Anunoby showing just how vital he is to Knicks since returning from injury

There are few players in the NBA that impact overall winning the way OG Anunoby does.

After the Knicks came out sluggish Tuesday night and were outscored by four points in the first quarter, Anunoby was the catalyst for their dominant second quarter, when they outscored the Raptors by 21 points en route to their 117-101 win in Toronto, earning them a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals.

“OG, he was all over the place,” Josh Hart said after the game. “He really helped start that run and then we were able to get stops, play fast, get out in transition and play to our strength. Huge shoutout to him, really changed the tide of the game.”

“All over the place” is a perfect way to describe Anunoby’s impact. With a quiet and subdued personality, he prefers to stay away from the limelight off the court. But on the court, he makes his presence felt in all facets of the game.

The Knicks held their own in the nine games Anunoby missed with a hamstring strain, going 6-3.

But in the three games since he has returned — in which they went 3-0, two of which were against current playoff teams — it has been evident how much better they are with Anunoby on the court.