Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder rolls past New York Knicks

On January 15, 2025By Littum

NEW YORK — Jalen Brunsonif the Knicks were trailing by 30 at one point Friday night, only fishing and searching for hope. Even in minute 35 of a decimation, his pursuer refused to relax.

With less than a minute left in the third quarter, Brunson, a body-shifting, tear-dropping star guard, appeared to have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tricked. The prison. Out of reach to tap into a bottomless deficit.

Then the SGA reappeared and stripped Brunson of his floater and the last bit of white in his eyes. He rushed to Brunson’s right hip, jumped as the shot took flight, and slammed it into the crowd. Up 25, the Thunder’s punishment method was the same as it had been early in its 126-101 win over the Knicks.

50 First Dates turned into 50 hard breaks. 48 minutes of grabbing the Knicks by the collar and stuffing their faces in the toilet – Gilgeous-Alexander was a bully for 29 of them. New York’s only sin was that it played Oklahoma City two days without a loss.

On Wednesday, the Thunder suffered their first loss in 38 days, a particularly public and widely consumed regular season defeat. By midnight on Thursday, the team had long exhaled.

“Yeah, there’s a lot of games left,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of the team’s reaction Wednesday. “So we have a chance to go on many lines. The season did not end with that game. We have played in games where our season ended. So it was definitely not devastating.”

Added wing Aaron Wiggins: “Nobody addressed it. Nobody mentioned it. It’s a long road trip, so the guys are just ready for the next game. Moving on.”

And still, OKC hasn’t lost two straight this season. On Friday, it regained its dominance over the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks and Thunder made just two of their 17 shots combined. OKC started 1 for 10. Then it made 16 of its next 18 attempts, a frenzy of offense unlike many this season.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 39 points in just 29 minutes, made shots from behind and slid to his easiest spots. Jalen Williams, added 19, did his usual pull-ups.

Isaiah Joe, who acknowledged he’s had a shooting streak that’s been tough to endure recently, went for 31 points and a career-high eight 3-pointers on just 10 attempts — the third-most 3s in a game by any player in franchise history.

Isaiah Hartenstein flicked his hands like a conductor, conducting lead transitions in harmony.

OKC made 14 of its 27 3-point attempts. 10 of them came through the first 24 minutes, when 70 points hung on the Knicks.

If the offensive rumble wasn’t enough, the Thunder rolled out of bed as a historically terrifying defense.

New York’s wing shooters were asked to make decisions and drill open shots; they hardly did either. OKC’s double team looked like they were trying to save a sandcastle from a crashing wave. It was just Karl Anthony-Towns in the post.

But Torden saw food. They chose – as is often the choice – to be greedy.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander loves New York. And more specifically, Madison Square Garden.

The moment his feet break the girth, his smile widens. His grip tightens. His leather polishes itself.

He loves it so much that he devotes game-winning jumpers and performances like Friday’s at MSG, a 39-point masterclass, his career-high in the building. This time without a fourth quarter to push further, perhaps for his first 50-burger.

“Besides Paycom, it’s probably the best arena in the NBA,” SGA said. “It has a feeling — the kids these days say aura. … there’s a feeling in MSG. The fans are very engaged in the game. There’s oohs, there’s oohs. The city loves basketball, and you can feel it out there.”

The feeling was mutual. It is difficult, even for 20,000, to describe what they see with him. But their stomachs rumble as he rises to make 14 of his 20 2-pointers and the only 3 he made.

Scorn eventually dissolved into acceptance.

Midway through the third quarter, a shout rang out near the media row as SGA sat down on another middy: Why is he so good?

“He can make it look easy sometimes, but it’s not easy,” coach Mark Daigneault said. “And some of that is his growth individually as a player and just the things slowing down for him as he gets more and more experience. He’s still at the beginning of his prime as a player.”

Gilgeous-Alexander would play there 81 more times if he could. And while he’s notorious for only scoring 40 points (or 31 to be exact), SGA had no desire to push for 50 or more after three stellar periods.

“I’ve had 40 before. Hopefully I’ll get 40 again. Now, if I was at 79, I probably would have told coach,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, pausing to hold up two fingers to express his desire for 81, Kobe Bryant’s career high in points. “39? Yes. It’s another day at the office.”

As the word “hopefully” slipped from his lips, SGA knocked on wood. He doesn’t need luck. Just a pulse.

After a recent shooting he wasn’t proud of, Joe knew Friday was coming.

If for no other reason, because of the science.

“I believe in the law of averages,” said Joe. “There are ups and downs, (you) can never waver. I just think you have to be consistent with your work off the field.”

The OKC locker room was a collection of those who leaned into the law of averages, leaning into the idea that time was on the side of Joe, a career sharpshooter.

From December 7th to December 28th, Joe made just 21.6% of his 3s. Since December 29th, he’s now shooting 47.1% from deep, including a 34-foot bomb that seemed destined for the rim.

Joe had to.

TIP OFF: 5 p.m. Sunday at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC (FanDuel Sports Network)