NEW YORK (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 factors, Josh Giddey had a triple-double and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder shot a season-high 62.5% from the sector in a 145-135 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.
Giddey had 24 factors, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who picked up their fifth straight victory at Madison Sq. Backyard. Giddey joined Wilt Chamberlain (1968) as the one different participant in NBA historical past to report triple-doubles throughout their first two video games at MSG.
“Any time your title is throughout the firm of (Chamberlain), one of many all-time greats, is particular,” Giddey stated. “However basketball is a staff sport, so if these issues contribute to successful and serving to my guys round me be higher, then it makes it price it.”
Lu Dort additionally had 24 factors for Oklahoma Metropolis and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl added 17.
“We took the best photographs; we made the best passes,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “Nobody was pounding it. We simply type of moved it and let the ball discover the best man. Guys had been all able to assault. It was a great offense.”
Six Knicks scored in double figures, led by Cam Reddish, who had a season-high 26 factors. Julius Randle had 25 and Immanuel Quickley chipped in 24.
RJ Barrett, the Knicks’ second-leading scorer, acquired into foul hassle and was held to a season-low 4 factors on 2-of-10 capturing in 19 minutes. He didn’t play within the ultimate 21-plus minutes.
“We simply acquired behind by a lot that we had been simply on the lookout for life,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau stated of his choice to depart Barrett on the bench. “The group that was in there gave us a bit little bit of a spark, in order that’s the place we went with it.”
The Thunder surpassed their season common for factors (113.4) by scoring 122 factors by way of three quarters. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 within the third, and the Thunder used a 17-2 run to show a three-point sport right into a rout.
“(Gilgeous-)Alexander, he is a troublesome matchup. So is Giddey,” Thibodeau stated. “You are not guarding these guys individually, you are guarding these guys together with your staff, in order that’s the place we fell brief.”
The groups set a torrid tempo from the outset, with New York placing up 48 first-quarter factors, a season excessive for a single quarter. New York, which led by as many as 13, shot 64.5% from the sector within the first quarter and went 4 of seven from 3-point vary, with 12 assists on its 20 subject objectives.
Oklahoma Metropolis set a season excessive by scoring 43 factors within the second quarter, then duplicated it within the third. The Thunder made 74% of their photographs within the second and turned a 12-point deficit right into a six-point halftime lead. The Thunder, who outscored the Knicks by 18 within the second quarter, scored a season-high 79 first-half factors and closed the body with a 24-12 run.
“We clearly did not begin the best way we wished,” Daigneault stated. “I believed we did an amazing job of course-correcting within the second quarter and simply settled again into our stuff and acquired management of the sport going into the half.”
Within the Thunder’s final go to to MSG, Giddey completed with 28 factors, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a 127-123 extra time victory on Feb. 14.
“We solely come (to MSG) as soon as (per season), so we have got to benefit from it,” Giddey stated.
The Knicks had been with out middle Mitchell Robinson for the fifth consecutive sport due to a knee harm. Isaiah Hartenstein began in his place for the third straight sport and had 14 factors and 7 rebounds.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who performed his school basketball at Kentucky, was saved off the scoreboard for the primary 8 minutes, 11 seconds however improved to 5-0 mixed at MSG in his school {and professional} profession. … The Thunder have scored 130-plus factors in three straight video games (2-1).
Oklahoma Metropolis: At Boston on Monday.
New York: At Utah on Tuesday.
