Thunder 111, Knicks 100: The Day After Report
Nuggets & Notes
- The Oklahoma City Thunder wasn't always at its best in this one, but it walked away with a double-digit win over an Eastern Conference contender. Coming into the game, the New York Knicks had been playing well (albeit against soft competition), and the Thunder did what it needed to do to notch victory number 59.
- Offensively, the Thunder had spells where it looked like it could cruise to a win, but the team just never looked like it could get into a sustained rhythm. A big problem was the three-point shooting. In the first three quarters, OKC was 6-of-20 from deep, before finishing a respectable 10-of-28.
- Let's start with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA's been in a little mini-slump shooting lately. Entering the fourth quarter, while Shai hit his customary 20 points, he was just 5-15 shooting and 3 turnovers. Most of his points came at the free throw line.
- Fourth quarter SGA was different though. In the decisive frame, Gilgeous-Alexander totaled 10 points on 3-3 shooting, and doubled his assist total (2 assists in quarters 1-3, 2 assists in the fourth quarter). The MVP's play propelled OKC to the all-important win.
- Lu Dort got off to a hot start offensively, with two early threes and a putback dunk.
- Speaking of offense, not a lot of contributions from the bench. Not a single bench player scored in double figures. Ajay Mitchell led the bench with 8.
- That said, Alex Caruso had a great game of creating havoc and making plays. Caruso was even given the assignment of defending Karl-Anthony Towns, and this included stretches when the Thunder had two bigs on the court.
- While the Knicks were intent on trying to take advantage of the size mismatch, Caruso held his own. He racked up some fouls, but it never felt like an advantage for New York.
- Jalen Williams was fantastic overall: 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 7-of-7 from the line, attacking downhill with purpose all night. I've said it once, and I'll say it again, JDub has come back from his injury absence like a rocket. He looks fresh and healthy. An attacking JDub is a dangerous JDub.
- One of the best sequences of the game came early in the third: Jalen Williams picked a pocket, weaved through three Knicks defenders, nearly lost the ball, and still finished.
- Chet Holmgren quietly stacked a really solid night: 16 points, 9 rebounds, and +16. Chet also capped off the dagger play, where Shai shot a bullet pass to Chet, who handled it well and slammed it home to finish off the Knicks.
- In other news about Holmgren, he was introduced as a guard in the starting lineups. At that moment, I was really wondering what Mark Daigneault was cooking up.
- Jalen Brunson had a stellar game for the Knicks. Brunson poured in 32 points on 13-of-22 shooting and kept the Knicks within striking distance all night.
- Shoutout to the $20K halfcourt shot winner.
One Key Takeaway
A week or so ago, it looked like SGA was going to run away with the MVP. But the world wants a competition, and suddenly Victor Wembanyama has suddenly surged to a legit threat to a repeat for Shai.
I don't know. It doesn't seem like it's because Wemby has done anything particularly notable as of late. It seems primarily driven by three things: (1) the ridiculous and tired narrative that SGA is a foul baiter, (2) the San Antonio Spurs are pushing for the no. 1 and the best record in the NBA, and (3) Wemby is the kind of talent that gets people excited.
Shai not being quite as efficient and struggling with his shot a bit hasn't helped. Thank goodness for his fourth quarter, because what was once a runaway MVP win for Shai now looks like a potential nail biter.
I hate to say it, but it feels like the Thunder has to get the top seed in the West for SGA to repeat as MVP. Which is a shame, because SGA has put together his best body of work yet.
