The Knicks faced a heart-wrenching loss last night against the Thunder, falling short by just a slim margin with a final score of 112-113.
Despite a valiant effort, led by Jalen Brunson‘s 30 points and Miles McBride‘s 19 points, the Knicks couldn’t secure the win in the dying moments of the game.
In a nail-biting finish, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a clutch corner two-pointer with a mere 2.1 seconds left on the clock, giving the Thunder a one-point lead. The Knicks had one final chance to snatch victory, but Brunson’s 16-foot shot at the buzzer fell short, sealing their fate in heartbreaking fashion.
The final minutes were a rollercoaster of momentum swings. The Thunder led 104-96 with under 5 minutes remaining, but the Knicks mounted a spirited comeback with an impressive 8-0 run, tying the game at 104-104 in just over a minute. Despite entering the fourth quarter with a promising 85-75 lead, the Knicks found themselves in a deadlock at 88-88 with the Thunder rallying on a 13-3 run.
The Knicks were without their centerpiece, Mitchell Robinson, who recently returned from a 50-game injury absence. Unfortunately, he sprained his left ankle against the Spurs after landing awkwardly on an attempted dunk. Additionally, they are eagerly awaiting the return of OG Anunoby and Julius Randle, both of whom have missed significant playing time this year.
The third quarter was a highlight for the Knicks, as they outscored the Thunder 39-25, shooting an impressive 66.7% from the field, including 6-12 from beyond the arc. Brunson led the charge with 10 points in the quarter, closely followed by McBride with 8.
However, the Knicks struggled in the second quarter, trailing 50-46 at halftime after shooting just 9-22 from the field, including a dismal 1-8 from three-point range. Thunder’s Jalen Williams capitalized on this, scoring 15 points in the quarter and finishing with a game-high 33 points.
Despite the loss, all Knicks starters made significant contributions, with Isaiah Hartenstein recording 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists, Josh Hart adding 13 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Donte DiVincenzo chipping in with 15 points.
The Knicks’ performance from the free-throw line was a point of concern, shooting just 67.6%, although it was still better than the Thunder’s 50%. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 19 points, while Josh Giddey notched his third career triple-double, all against the Knicks, with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Up-next: The Knicks (44-30) are visiting Miami to take on the Heat (41-33) on Tuesday from 7:30pm.
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