Festival of scorers in the game that kicked off Sunday with a 145-135 victory for the young Oklahoma City Thunder in their visit to the New York Knicks marquee.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the visitors’ dunk with 37 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in 36 minutes on the field.
«Tonight we took the right shots. The right pass,” admitted manager Mark Daigneault. “We just moved the ball and let them find the right man. The boys were ready to attack. It was a good offense,” he acknowledged.
The Thunder hit just about everything with an impressive 62% shooting from the field and 55% from 20+ yards.
In addition to the sublime meeting of Shai, his classmate defense zoneJosh Giddey joined the party with a triple-double: 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. The Australian entered the NBA history books as the only player alongside Wilt Chamberlain (1968) with a triple-double in his first two games at Madison Square Garden, according to ESPN Stats.
“Any time your name is in the company of Chamberlain, one of the all-time greats, it’s special,” acknowledged Josh Giddey. “But basketball is a team game, so if those things contribute to the win and help improve my teammates, then it’s worth it.”
In the Knicks’ absolute catastrophe after collecting a franchise record 48 points in the first period. They have since allowed 43 points in both the second and third quarters which allowed the Thunder to hit the game and hold off the New York reserves last shot.
Cam Reddish got her best score as Knicks with 26 points; separated by Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley with 25 and 24 points respectively.
«Alexander is a very difficult opponent. So is Giddey. You don’t defend them individually, you defend them as a team, and this is where we went very wrong, ”acknowledged Tom Thibodeau.
For the first time this year, boos were heard against the Knicks’ sports management. Similarly, there are already several rumors calling for a reaction from Thibodeau if he doesn’t want to lose his position. The Knicks defense was drained by allowing 145 points tonight; the 112 in the last loss against the Nets, or the 133 points conceded against the Celtics.
(Cover photo: Ian Maule/Getty Images)
