OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges show they can be Knicks’ defensive stoppers

If you were waiting for a blueprint game for what the retooled Knicks want to be this season, Friday’s blowout win over the Bucks checked all of the boxes.

Karl-Anthony Towns was unstoppable at the offensive end, scoring at the rim and beyond the 3-point arc.

Jalen Brunson dished nine ᴀssists without committing a turnover.

OG Anunoby defends Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Knicks' win over the Bucks. — OG Anunoby defends Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Knicks’ win over the Bucks.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Josh Hart filled up various columns on the score sheet, as is typical.

And most of all, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges took on the ᴀssignments of primarily guarding Milwaukee’s two scoring leaders — Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard — and held them to a combined 43 points, well below their combined average of about 59 entering the game.

“I thought OG and Mikal really set the tone for us defensively with tough matchups,” coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game. “I’ll tell you, OG is very unique in the terms that he’s got strength, he’s got speed, he’s got anticipation. He’s got a second, third effort mentality. I think that goes a long way.

“A lot of the things he does for the team really go unnoticed. But I think his teammates have great appreciation for him. You can’t measure all the little things on every possession he does.”

The 7-foot Towns, who scored 27 of his game-high 32 points in the first half, repeatedly called Anunoby “special” and “one of the best defenders I’ve ever seen” before noting that he played with four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in Minnesota.

Brunson added that the 6-7 Anunoby, who was acquired from the Raptors last December, makes it look “so easy and effortless” in guarding bigger or smaller players.

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Mikal Bridges defends Damian Lillard during the Knicks’ win over the Bucks.Getty Images

“It’s the pure talent that he has,” Brunson said. “The way he’s able to guard the ball, the way he plays off the ball in situations, he’s a phenomenal piece that we have. He’s been great since he’s been here.”

Anunoby finished the game with 14 points, six rebounds, five ᴀssists, three steals and two blocked sH๏τs in 32 minutes, in addition to his work versus Antetokounmpo.

“He’s a great player, so make it as hard as possible,” Anunoby said of the two-time league MVP. “You know he’s going to score; just try to limit the scoring and also stop him from being as comfortable as he usually is.

“I’ve played long enough to know kind of what he does. He’s a great player. So just try to make things as difficult as possible.”

Next up for the Knicks will be Sunday’s visit to Indiana to face the Pacers, who eliminated them in the second round of the playoffs last spring.

The Knicks already downed the Pacers once this season in their home opener last month, with Bridges primarily responsible for holding All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton scoreless on 0-for-8 shooting, including seven misses from 3-point range.

Lillard was held to 19 points on 6 of 15 shooting in Friday’s win, which evened the Knicks record at 4-4.

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