In an exhilarating display of skill and tenacity, the Oklahoma City Thunder recorded their 14th straight victory, defeating the New York Knicks 117-107 on Friday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the driving force for the Thunder, scoring 33 points and turning in a perfect performance from the free throw line, hitting 7 of 7.
The win not only marks the Thunder’s longest winning streak since their days as the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1995-96 season, but it also ended the Knicks’ impressive nine-game winning streak, their best since 2013.
This matchup was a rare occurrence, as it was only the fourth time in the NBA’s 79-year history that teams with winning streaks of nine or more had faced each other. Gilgeous-Alexander, shooting 12 of 26 from the field, praised his bench, which significantly outperformed the Knicks’ backups, contributing an incredible 35 points to just 5 for New York.
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“They made great plays all night,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of his teammates. “We have a roster of talented professionals. Everyone was willing to step up when it mattered.”
Despite a strong second quarter from the Knicks, where Mikal Bridges exploded with 19 of his 24 points, the Thunder fought back vigorously. They finished the third quarter on an 8-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Isaiah Joe that reversed the momentum and put them ahead 92-91.
With their foot on the gas, the Thunder took off with a 10-0 run, Wiggins hitting a crucial three-pointer followed by another three-pointer, increasing their lead to 108-101 to just a little more than two minutes from the end.
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“Our message at halftime was simply to stay true to who we are. We have faced challenges before and know the game can change at any moment,” reflected Gilgeous-Alexander. “When we play to our strengths, we usually have the upper hand.”
Elsewhere, French sensation Victor Wembanyama celebrated his 100th NBA game with a thrilling victory as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Denver Nuggets 113-110. Just days shy of his 21st birthday, Wembanyama played a vital role in the final minutes, assisting on Chris Paul’s decisive shot and sealing the victory by intercepting a crucial ball from Nikola Jokic.
In a duel of heavyweights, Wembanyama shined with 35 points and 18 rebounds, while three-time MVP Jokic also put on a show by registering 41 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists. Wembanyama’s sophomore campaign continues to showcase his phenomenal abilities, currently averaging 25.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.9 blocks per game.
The night also saw the Cleveland Cavaliers extend their record to a league-best 30-4, securing victory over the Dallas Mavericks 134-122, thanks to Evan Mobley’s stellar performance with 34 points and 10 rebounds. The Mavericks, deprived of their star Luka Doncic due to injury, suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.
In another game, the Boston Celtics triumphed over the Houston Rockets 109-86, led by Derrick White’s 23 points. The Rockets, under former Boston coach Ime Udoka, faced challenges with the loss of winger Jabari Smith for several weeks due to a broken hand.
In a matchup of struggling teams, CJ McCollum shined with 50 points, guiding New Orleans to a 132-120 victory over the Washington Wizards. Orlando’s Tristan da Silva also had a memorable night, scoring a career-high 25 points in their 106-97 win over Toronto, while Tobias Harris’ 24 points propelled Detroit to a narrow 98-94 victory over Charlotte.
