Thunder bounce back with blowout of Knicks

Field Level Media|published: Fri 10th January, 22:17 2025

NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks

Jan 10, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) fight for a loose ball Oklahoma City Thunder guards Aaron Wiggins (21) and Isaiah Joe (11) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points and Isaiah Joe had a season-high 31 points off the bench Friday night for the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, who routed the New York Knicks 126-101.

The Western Conference-leading Thunder, whose franchise-record 15-game winning streak was snapped in a 129-122 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, led by as many as 30 points in the second half as they completed a season sweep of the Knicks. Oklahoma City earned a 117-107 home win over New York on Jan. 3.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 30 points for the 22nd time this season. Joe finished two points shy of his career high and logged the most points by a Thunder reserve since Dennis Schroder had 31 points against the Orlando Magic on Jan. 22, 2020.

Jalen Williams added 19 points for the Thunder.

Karl-Anthony Towns (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Josh Hart (16 points, 13 rebounds) each had a double-double for the Knicks, who have lost four of five since a nine-game winning streak. Jalen Brunson scored 27 points while going 12-of-12 from the free-throw line, and Cameron Payne added 11 points.

The teams got off to an ice-cold start by combining to miss 14 of their first 15 shots while scoring two points apiece over the first 4 1/2 minutes. The teams then scored 32 points combined over a five-minute span before the Thunder began taking control by scoring 12 unanswered points in the final 2:07 to expand their lead to 31-17.

Gilgeous-Alexander and Joe combined for nine points in the surge.

Williams opened the second with a floater for the Thunder, who went ahead by 20 points for the first time at 44-24 on Joe's three-point play. Joe's 3-pointer with 1:47 remaining gave Oklahoma City its biggest first-half lead at 65-37 before the visitors entered the locker room with a 70-43 lead.

The Knicks got no closer than 22 in the second half. The Thunder opened a 28-point lead seven times in the third before leading by 30 twice in the fourth.

--Field Level Media

Latest