Charles Barkley turned a Knicks playoff victory into a pop quiz on live television Sunday night, asking OG Anunoby what his real name was after New York’s 121-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Anunoby did the work first. He finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists as the Knicks moved within one win of their first NBA Finals appearance in 27 seasons. Barkley, speaking during the postgame interview, asked, “What is your real name?” and then repeated the question as, “OG, can I ask you a question? What is your real name?”
The moment got the laughter, but Ernie Johnson quickly shifted the focus to what mattered most: Anunoby’s production. He said the more important number was the forward’s postseason shooting, which had been 59% overall and 51% from the three-point range before Sunday’s game. Against Cleveland, Anunoby made three of four tries from beyond the arc and shot 6-for-10 overall.
That efficiency fed into another big night for the Knicks’ supporting cast. Mikal Bridges scored 21 points on 11-for-15 shooting and added six rebounds, three steals and two assists, helping New York stay in control after a road win that put Cleveland on the brink of elimination.
There was no mystery behind Anunoby’s identity, only Barkley’s stumble. He was born in England to Nigerian parents, and his name has long been part of the league’s shorthand around the Knicks’ wing defender. But the larger story is even simpler: New York now leads the series 3-0, and no team in NBA history has won a postseason series after falling into that hole.
That leaves Cleveland with the burden of history and New York with a chance to finish the job. The Cavaliers have to stop the series from ending in the next game, while the Knicks are one win away from a Finals return that has eluded them for nearly three decades.
