The Thunder won a great victory in New York (101-126) while the Celtics were surprised by the Kings (97-114).
The Oklahoma City Thunder, beaten by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday in the summit match between the two conference leaders, resumed their march forward last night by largely beating the New York Knicks (101-126). At Madison Square Garden, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe, scoring 70 points between them, carried OCT to victory.
The visiting team made the difference from the start, winning the first quarter 31-17, then the second almost as easily 39-26. Facing the stunned Knicks, third in the Eastern Conference, they already had a 27-point lead at halftime (43-70). Georgeous-Alexander once again shone, scoring 39 points with a 15/21 shooting. Isaiah Joe was not to be outdone by making eight three-point baskets off the bench on 11 attempts. Oklahoma City increased its number of wins to 31 this season, compared to just six losses.
The harvest of Domantas Sabonis
In the Eastern Conference, the Celtics, title holders and runners-up to Cleveland in the standings, suffered a serious setback against the Sacramento Kings, who came to beat them in Boston (97-114). The two teams were neck and neck after three thirds, 76-76, but the Kings shut down the Celtics in the final quarter. For Sacramento, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points, but it was especially interior Domantas Sabonis who was impressive by capturing 28 rebounds to go with 23 points. Boston especially sinned in attack, with a low 40.5% shooting success rate, and 11 successful three-point shots out of… 41 attempts!
-Still in the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee snatched fourth place from Orlando, which it beat 109 to 106 in Florida. Giannis Antetokounmpo, author of a major performance with 41 points and 14 rebounds, stole the show from Paolo Banchero. The young Magic star, who made his return after nearly two and a half months of absence due to torn obliques, still scored 34 points. In Philadelphia, the New Orleans Pelicans overcame the absence of their star back Zion Williamson, suspended for arriving late at the New Orleans airport for this trip, won 123 to 115 against the deprived Sixers, them, from Joel Embiid.
The Denver Nuggets found Nikola Jokic, ill and absent during his team’s two previous matches: the triple MVP hit hard for his return, with a triple double (35 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists), and his team dominated the Brooklyn Nets 124 to 105 in Colorado. Denver is still fourth in the Western Conference.
