PHILADELPHIA — OG Anunoby saved the day — and then almost ruined it — and then saved it again. 

When the Knicks lead had dwindled to three points with just under two minutes left in the game, his putback dunk gave them breathing room. When it went back down to two, he drilled a 3-pointer to put them back up five points. After a stop, he assisted Landry Shamet, who drilled a 3-pointer to put the Knicks up eight. 

But with the Knicks up three with 9.9 seconds left, Anunoby went up for a layup — instead of dribbling the ball out — and was fouled. The call was reversed after a 76ers challenge, though, giving Philadelphia the ball. 

Then Tyrese Maxey missed a 3-pointer, and Jalen Brunson was fouled — but promptly missed both free throws, giving the 76ers another chance to tie the game. Then Anunoby stole Joel Embiid’s pass to seal the game. 

What a roller-coaster. 

OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks shoots the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NBAE via Getty Images

Anunoby also spent the end of the Knicks’ 112-109 win over the 76ers Saturday afternoon at Xfinity Mobile Arena guarding Embiid, as the Knicks went with a small lineup. That’s because Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out during the middle of the quarter. 

But Towns’ latest foul trouble was a blessing in disguise. 

He picked up his fourth foul — second offensive — with 10:24 left in the third quarter. It forced Knicks coach Mike Brown to take him out and put Mitchell Robinson in the game. 

And that’s precisely when the game changed. The Knicks immediately went on a 12-0 run and took control before letting the 76ers back into the game late. 

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks during the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images

Embiid had looked like his former MVP self, bullying Towns for 28 points in the first half. He only finished with 38 — and did not score in the third quarter, when Robinson was in the game and the Knicks made their run. 

Then Towns was back in the game to start the fourth quarter — and 15 seconds later he picked up his fifth foul. Back to the bench he went, with Ariel Hukporti coming in this time. He was able to hold his own. 

Towns came in one more time with 7:29 left in the game. The 76ers scored six straight points before Towns fouled out two minutes later, giving up an and-1 to Embiid. Robinson reentered and promptly grabbed an offensive rebound, which led to a Shamet 3-pointer, and stole the ball from Embiid.

Towns finished with just 10 points. The Knicks were at their best with him on the bench. 

Brunson recorded 14 first-quarter points en route to a team-high 31. But he was uncharacteristically not at his best down the stretch. 

Anunoby added 23.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives for a score past Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Brown has repeatedly recognized Miles McBride and Shamet as his best point-of-attack defenders. McBride missed the first of two previous matchups between these two teams, and Shamet missed both — two Knicks losses in which they were overrun by the 76ers’ explosive backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. 

But with both back in the fold, the Knicks were able to contain them both. They scored 22 and 14, respectively, unable to break down the Knicks defense like they had the previous two meetings. 

The arena was full of Knicks fans, making it sound like a home game at Madison Square Garden, particularly during the third quarter. 

After losing nine of 11 games, a rout of the Nets — even in historic fashion — wasn’t going to be proof the Knicks were back on track. 

But a win over the 76ers is more convincing.