OG Anunoby, Indiana alumnus, helps Knicks take 3-1 lead in NBA Finals after Game 4 win

The Indiana men’s basketball alumnus OG Anunoby returned to the NBA Finals spotlight and played a key role in New York’s Game 4 win, a result that pushed the Knicks to a 3-1 lead in the series. According to Yahoo Sports, Anunoby made the game-sealing play that helped New York secure the back-half of the championship swing, putting the Knicks one win from finishing what they started this postseason.

For the Knicks, the series posture matters as much as any single swing. A 3-1 lead in the Finals changes the math of every possession, and it also compresses the margin for error for the opponent. From here, New York’s challenge is maintaining clarity and intensity as the pressure shifts from “can we get there?” to “can we end it?”

Anunoby’s presence gives the Knicks more than just a helpful highlight. He is known as a versatile wing defender, and players in that mold tend to show up most in the late stages of close games, when teams lean on half-court matchups and late-clock execution. Yahoo Sports’ description of a “game-sealing play” fits that profile, suggesting Anunoby’s impact arrived in the portion of the game where defense and decision-making often decide the outcome.

The storyline also travels beyond the arena. Anunoby’s college identity is part of why this moment stands out for Indiana fans. He is now in a Finals that can end with his second championship, a framing Yahoo Sports used as it looked at the stakes of this run for the 25-year-old swingman.

New York’s broader title picture is now clearer. Instead of a series that could keep turning on adjustments and counterpunches, the Knicks can treat each remaining game as a distinct step, with Game 5 becoming the emotional and strategic hinge. Still, a 3-1 lead is not the finish line on its own, and Finals history includes enough comebacks that teams typically emphasize process over celebration.

Whether the Knicks can close will likely depend on how consistently they defend and how efficiently they convert their own half-court opportunities. In particular, late-game possessions often reveal whether a team can withstand pressure without forcing low-percentage shots. If Anunoby’s Game 4 impact was tied to that late defensive and execution element, it would make him a natural focal point again as the series moves toward its conclusion.

For now, the next question is straightforward: can New York turn this edge into the championship? The Knicks have the advantage in the series count, but Game 5 will determine whether this becomes a one-more-step ending or another chapter that drags the Finals back into the balance.

After a win that tightened the title timeline, Indiana fans get one more reason to look east. The Hoosier alumnus is once again part of the Finals finish, and the Knicks are now operating with the kind of momentum that tends to define championship memories. The remainder of the series will show whether New York can keep its execution steady long enough to claim the trophy.