A series of victories was bound to come to an end, since the Thunder (thirteen in a row) received the Knicks (nine in a row) in the shock of the evening. Finally, even in “back-to-back”, they are the teammates of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33 points, 7 assists) who came out on top in front of their visitors of the day (117-107).
But it was anything but simple for OKCwho notably had to inflict a 37-19 on new York in the fourth quarter, driven by a Aaron Wiggins decisive over this period: 15 points (at 4/4 at 3-points)!
Until this turnaround, the Knicks Jalen Brunson (23 points, 9 assists) and Karl-Anthony Towns (17 points, 22 rebounds) negotiated this game as it should be. Counting around ten points in advance, by controlling the paint and not releasing the pressure at this level, facing an “SGA” a bit isolated against this five ultra-productive (and ultra-used…) New Yorkers. The duo Mikal Bridges – OG Anunoby allowed himself to convert the 3-points when the ball came out from inside.
But, as the minutes passed, the Thunder regained their splendor in defense, also galvanizing this increasingly electric Paycom Center crowd, as the gap narrowed and New York faltered in attack.
Then, when Aaron Wiggins got hot to change everything in the last act, nothing could happen to the leader of the West, uncontrollable on both sides and launched towards a new authoritarian and reference success. Still without Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso, please…
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– OKC has so many resources… They perhaps sometimes gave the impression of having heavy legs, not being as intractable as usual in defense, but the Thunder players still found the means to win for the fourteenth time in a row (their defeat in the NBA Cup final did not count in the balance sheet). Proof that this team, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP mode and an army of soldiers ready to sacrifice themselves for the collective, has everything it takes to win even when it is not on its best day. Necessary when you want to play for a long time in the spring…
– The Spark Aaron Wiggins. Yes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams may well have done their numbers to put the Thunder in a position to achieve a “comeback”, this could not have taken place without the saving hot shot of Aaron Wiggins, at the origin of a 25-10 which changed everything in the fourth quarter, with its multiple 3-point baskets. An external address that could also be described as the tipping point of this meeting, as OKC (14/27) proved more effective than New York (9/32) in the field. In the same way, also, as the contribution of the two benches (44 points to 5…).
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
