The New York Knicks kept control of Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, yet the final score did not create the loudest reaction. Instead, OG Anunoby delivered a five-word mic drop after a tense sequence with Desmond Bane. Late in the fourth quarter of New York’s 106 to 100 win, Anunoby attacked the rim and met rookie Anthony Black at the top. The block sent the ball toward Bane, who caught it and fired it straight into Anunoby’s midsection. Officials stopped play immediately and assessed a technical foul for what they labeled a hostile act.
Anunoby did not escalate the moment. He did not show anger or confusion. When reporters asked him for his reaction after the game, he responded with a short, dry line that summed up the entire situation, per ClutchPoints.
“I should have caught it.”
The moment created a wave of commentary across the NBA world. Some believed the sequence crossed a line. Others thought it was more bizarre than aggressive. Either way, it became the defining flashpoint of a tight Knicks win.
Debate Erupts After Technical Foul
On FanDuel TV, former All-Star DeMarcus Cousins offered the bluntest reaction. He did not understand why Bane chose to fire the ball at Anunoby.
“I’m not saying punch him in the face, but maybe slap the [expletive] out of him,” Cousins said. “That’s crazy. I’m not going for that.”
Chandler Parsons also shared his surprise on the broadcast. He described the moment as “one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen on a basketball court.” Lou Williams sat beside him and questioned why the Magic guard reacted that way when Anunoby had taken contact on his own shot attempt. Both pointed out that nothing in the play suggested a reason for such a heated move.
Broadcasters Mike Breen and Clyde Frazier reacted in real time with similar confusion. They watched the replay several times before acknowledging they still had no clear answer for Bane’s decision. CBS Sports host Ashley Nicole Moss called the act “clown behavior” while former NBA veteran Eddie Johnson classified it as legal, yet “nasty.”
Fans in the building felt the tension instantly. The Garden crowd roared, Knicks teammates stepped toward Bane, and officials held the situation in place to prevent further trouble. The moment ended without further confrontation, but it left everyone searching for clarity on what they witnessed.
Anunoby Keeps Composure While Knicks Roll
Anunoby refused to fuel the fire. His response matched the personality the Knicks have embraced since his arrival. He finished with 21 points and seven rebounds, hit timely shots, and reinforced New York’s defensive edge. His steady approach helped the Knicks improve to 16 and 7 overall and 13 and 1 at home. The win also came without Karl Anthony Towns, who missed the game because of left calf tightness.
Bane now waits to see if the league office will review the act. Nothing indicates further discipline at this stage, and the play did not lead to an injury or a larger altercation. Still, this was not the first time Bane found himself in a similar situation. In November, he received an ejection for spiking the ball off Onyeka Okongwu’s head after a transition foul. He later acknowledged it as a “hard foul.”
Sunday’s throw created a new chapter in that pattern. Anunoby chose a different path. He shut down any possible feud with one simple line. “I should have caught it.”
That response ended the conversation and sent the Knicks forward with another home win.
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