Oklahoma City’s Centerpieces Click in Thunder’s Loss to the Knicks

After dropping a highway sport in Memphis, the Thunder made it two in a row with a deflating 129-119 loss to the New York Knicks in Oklahoma Metropolis on Monday. The Thunder merely had no reply for Jalen Brunson and New York’s rebounding benefit.

Oklahoma Metropolis hasn’t held an opponent beneath 30 first quarter factors in 5 video games now, permitting 38 factors to the Knicks on Monday. The final time the 2 groups met, simply ten days in the past within the Large Apple, the Thunder allowed 48 factors within the opening body. It’s changing into very problematic for a younger Thunder group that must be almost excellent down the stretch to mount a comeback some nights.

After the back-to-back highway wins towards Toronto and New York, it appears like Oklahoma Metropolis is coming again right down to earth. Both that, or Aleksej Pokusevski’s presence within the lineup is desperately missed in OKC’s scarce entrance courtroom depth.

Regardless of the loss, Oklahoma Metropolis had a stable offensive outing. Right here’s who led the Thunder on Monday evening:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SGA was efficient tonight, dropping 30 factors, seven assists and 5 rebounds. His potential to hover round 30 factors on each evening, even when it’s an off evening, is changing into unbelievable to look at.

Gilgeous-Alexander was simply 9-of-22 from the ground and 0-of-2 from 3-point vary, however his aggressiveness on the offensive finish is what each Thunder fan needs to see, irrespective of if he takes an additional shot or two. The OKC star was 12-of-13 on the free throw line, too.

Lu Dort

Monday was arguably Dort’s greatest sport of the season. Oklahoma Metropolis’s defensive stopper totaled 24 factors and eight rebounds on an environment friendly 9-of-14 taking pictures and 3-of-4 from 3-point vary.

After a gradual begin, Dort is lastly discovering a groove on the offensive finish. Monday, he took open photographs and located confidence early that led to an enormous sport.

Josh Giddey

Although Giddey missed each of his triples, he nonetheless had an environment friendly 18 factors on 8-of-15 taking pictures. He discovered a pleasant rhythm each within the lane and along with his floater Monday.

Along with the scoring, Giddey added 9 rebounds and 7 assists, enjoying an entire sport. It was certainly one of his higher offensive showings this season.

Jalen Williams

Outdoors of severely struggling from lengthy vary, Williams has been an unbelievable addition as a first-year participant. Monday evening was extra of the identical, as JDub added 13 factors off the bench on 5-of-11 taking pictures. Outdoors taking pictures stays the one maintain up in his present sport, because the rookie was simply 0-for-3 from lengthy vary. The flexibility he brings to lineup is large for a group just like the Thunder, although, and he’s solely going to enhance.

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