Thunder 103, Knicks 100: The Day After Report
Ryan and Brandon broke down the Thunder's win over the Knicks on today's podcast:
Don't tattle if you catch me stealing their insights below.
Nuggets and Notes:
- Glass half empty: The Thunder blew a big lead, something that has become a more regular trend this season.
- Glass half full: The Thunder blew a big lead on the road against a contender with a high-powered offense, then outplayed them for the win instead of crumbling.
- OKC did it with composure and just enough playmaking on both ends to eke out the victory.
- Mike Brown saw a no-call that would've been Shai's third foul in the first quarter and lost it. How can you blame him, really? New York's entire game plan was to stop Shai at all costs. Foul trouble would've done what the Knicks' traps and doubles and prayers couldn't: the MVP broke through to get up 26 points on 16 shots, and routinely dished to the Thunder's next best option when the defense sold out to get the ball out of his hands.
- Half of Shai's eight assists set up three-pointers for Chet Holmgren (28 pts, 8 rbs, 6-11 3PA), who made the Knicks pay when they helped off and gave him space.
- Shai's dagger three with just over a minute left put OKC over the rest of the way.
- Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and friends did a better job bottling up Jalen Brunson (16 pts, 15 ast, 5-18 FGA).
- The Knicks couldn't buy a three-pointer all night, shooting 28.6% from beyond the arc. Two of their 25 misses from deep came in the final six seconds, as Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby both missed dangerously clean looks to tie the game before the buzzer sounded.
- OKC held the Knicks to a sub-90 offensive rating in the first, second, and fourth quarters. It would've been an easy win if not for that pesky third period. The Knicks poured in 40 points and wiped away a 15-point OKC lead to start the final frame up 80-77. The Thunder took the uppercut, but kept their bearings.
- Both Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein left early with injuries: a hip contusion and a tight calf (the other calf), respectively. Sigh.
- Mark Daigneault has his challenge mojo back. He went 2-for-2 with a points swing.
- Fresh off owning up to crossing the line on the Jokic trip heard round the world, Lu Dort played a very Lu Dort game. While Isaiah Joe, Jared McCain, and Cason Wallace went 1-12 combined from deep, Dort hit 3-8 treys, scored 16 points, played annoyingly physical defense, and fouled out.
One Key Takeaway: Playoff moments
When the MSG crowd exploded after OG Anunoby tied it up at 77-77 with a pick six late in the third, and then again when Brunson found KAT for a transition bucket to make it 83-79 New York in the fourth, it felt like New York would keep rolling to victory. That's what's supposed to happen when you get over the hump at home. But the Thunder don't catch those feelings.
Shai brought it home, but his teammates clawed back the lead before he checked into the fourth quarter. The role players played a huge hand in halting Jalen Brunson and the Knicks less than a week after besting Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in an overtime period without Shai.
This kind of poise and big moment hutzpah were not so prevalent throughout last postseason. If the Thunder reserves all play with Lu Dort confidence this time around, other teams are going to have a tough time extending series against OKC. And my glass will be full.
