On a night when The Garden was rocking louder than ever, the incredible commentary gave the unforgettable moment its soundtrack.
Mike Breen, who grew up in Yonkers dreaming of calling a Knicks NBA Finals game, along with the radio broadcast team of Tyler Murray and Monica McNutt, added themselves to New York sports lore by being better than anyone else at telling listeners that what they just saw really happened on OG Anunoby’s incredible crunch time plays
“[Jalen] Brunson gets it. Fires up a three,” Breen began, calling arguably the most important play in Knicks franchise history for ABC in a 107-106 nail-biting victory to go up 3-1 in the NBA Finals on Wednesday night. “Shot no good. The tip. It’s good! It’s good! It’s good! With 1.2 remaining! The Knicks take the lead! OG Anunoby! It’s 107-106. It’s bedlam here at The Garden! They can’t believe it. Brunson’s shot looked good. It just came up short.”
Meanwhile, Murray starred on the local radio broadcast, calling the Anunoby tip-in with vim and verve for an audience listening blind.
“Anunoby is handing the ball (out of bounds). Finds Brunson at midcourt,” Murray begins. “Lanches a straight-on three, missed it short. Tip by Anunoby! He put it in! Anunoby put it in! The Knicks take the lead with 1.2 to go!”
“It’s not over,” McNutt injected.
“Anunoby out of nowhere!” Murray added.
“Wow!” McNutt said. “O.G. Anunoby. He inbounded the ball. He’s loose. Nobody came to him. That’s a great call. That’s a great play call.”
Marc Kestecher had the call alongside Doris Burke and P.J. Carlesimo on ESPN’s national radio call.
“Knicks were down as many as 29,” Kestecher said. “Anunoby gets it into Brunson. Brunson pulls a quick three. Off the front rim, no. Tip in good for the lead with 1.2 seconds to go! O.G. Anunoby flying out of nowhere! And this place is rocking at the Garden.”