The Knicks were unable to extend their winning streak to double digits on Friday night, as they fell to the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder, 117-107, at Paycom Center.
— This was no ordinary measuring stick game. With the Thunder sitting atop the Western Conference standings and the Knicks ranked third in the Eastern Conference, Friday marked just the fourth-ever NBA matchup of teams riding win streaks of nine-plus games. Oklahoma City also entered the contest with six consecutive wins at home — New York had won eight straight on the road.
— Both teams were equally efficient on offense in the first quarter, as the Knicks made 14 of 23 shots from the field while the Thunder made 13 of 23. It also didn’t take long for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to announce his presence and showcase his superstar skillset. He scored 14 points in the first 12 minutes. There was plenty of physicality on defense, and New York trailed after one, 33-30.
— The Knicks started the second quarter cold, without a field goal until OG Anunoby drilled a left-corner three with 8:11 remaining. Midway through the quarter, tough Thunder defense sparked the ire of Josh Hart, whose complaints to officials prompted a technical foul. But the physicality didn’t disrupt the Knicks’ rhythm and will, as they climbed to a commanding 14-point lead with under a minute left.
— One could argue the Knicks’ second quarter was their best of the season. With clever ball movement and the mindset to attack the rim, they outscored the Thunder by 15 and entered halftime with a 66-54 advantage. New York shot a crisp 59 percent (27 of 46) with wingers Anunoby and Mikal Bridges combining for 34 points, and more importantly, they held Gilgeous-Alexander to two points in the period.
— The Thunder returned to the court recharged, opening the third quarter with a quick 8-0 run that made Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau call a timeout. The break helped them regroup, however, and their lead returned to double-digits beyond the midway point of the period. There was reason to expect entertainment, as the Knicks and Thunder entered the game ranked first and second overall, respectively, in third-quarter point-differential. The Knicks led 88-80 after three.
— New York received an injury scare to Anunoby on a highlight-reel dunk late in the third quarter. Following two sharp passes from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson in transition, Anunoby landed hard on his surgically-repaired right elbow and briefly rolled on the floor. While officials reviewed a potential foul at the rim, Anunoby was checked out by trainers and fortunately cleared to return.
— The start of the fourth quarter mirrored the third, with the Thunder reigniting the crowd with a pair of buckets that forced another Knicks timeout. Less than two minutes later, Oklahoma City cut its deficit down to two on a three and New York burned another full timeout. Immediately following the break, the Thunder took their first lead since the second quarter. The Knicks’ confidence evaporated.
— While the stars delivered on both ends, Aaron Wiggins stepped up as unlikely hero for the Thunder late in the fourth, scoring a whopping 15 points and helping the team completely shift momentum. Oklahoma City held a 108-101 lead with less than three minutes left, and the Knicks failed to respond to the sudden onslaught. Call it a humbling second-half letdown… or collapse.
— Oklahoma City heavily relied on its bench for contributions, having played on Thursday as well. Their depth players combined for 44 points, while New York’s bench scored just five points. From start to finish, the Knicks heavily relied on their starters to handle the tall order. The Thunder also generated better looks near t the basket and made 14 of 27 shots from beyond the arc.
— Towns, who’d scored 30-plus points in three straight games, was ironically the only Knicks starter without double-digit points in the first half. He ultimately finished with 17 points and 22 rebounds in 42 minutes. New York’s leading scorer was Bridges, who added 24. Who got the last laugh? How about former Knick big Isaiah Hartenstein, who logged a team-high 14 boards for the Thunder.
Credit the Knicks’ defense for holding Gilgeous-Alexander in check during the second quarter, but the two-time All-Star still found a way to flex his muscles. He finished with a game-high 33 points on 12 of 26 shooting with seven assists and four rebounds.
The Knicks (24-11) will look to start a new win streak on Saturday night, with a road matchup against the Chicago Bulls (8 p.m. ET tip-off).
