Thunder use big fourth quarter to snap Knicks' nine-game winning streak
The Knicks played perhaps their best quarter of the year when they scored 36 points in the second period. But the Thunder were perhaps even better in the fourth quarter, when they outscored the Knicks by 18. The end result was a 117-107 win for the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
There are a lot of things you can point to that swung the game but it’s hard to ignore the shooting from deep. In the decisive fourth quarter, the Thunder hit 6-8 from behind the arc, while the Knicks shot just 1-9.
Another turning point was when OG Anunoby, who was playing his usual terrific game, got hurt on a dunk where he was unable to keep his hold on the rim and came down hard on his right elbow. Anunoby was able to stay in the game and complete the old-fashioned three-point play but he was largely ineffective after that.
The free throw put the Knicks up by 12 with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter and it was the 20th point of the game for Anunoby. He did not score the rest of the way.
And the final key was the Thunder’s depth. Even playing without Chet Holmgren, they used 11 players and received 44 points from their bench. Reserve Aaron Wiggins scored 19 points, including four 3-pointers. Meanwhile, the Knicks received just five bench points.
It’s fair to wonder if the Knicks were just gassed in the final quarter.
Like many teams are doing here lately, the Thunder used a smaller man on Karl-Anthony Towns, trying to run him off the 3-point line. Towns did not attempt a 3-point shot in the game. He did go inside to try to exploit the mismatch but his teammates did not force the action to their center. Towns finished with 17 points and 22 rebounds but it felt like he should have had more shot attempts, especially in the fourth quarter.
Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 24 points, while Jalen Brunson had 22 points and nine assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 33 points.
The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Knicks. New York will try to get back on the winning track as they play the second of a back-to-back, as they travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls. The game will feature the retirement of former MVP Derrick Rose’s jersey number.