On a thrilling night across the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder demonstrated their resilience by winning 117-107 against the New York Knicks, reaching their 14th consecutive victory. Canadian talent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with an impressive 33-point performance, propelling the Thunder into franchise history by tying the longest winning streak since their days as the Seattle SuperSonics during the 1995 season -96. The win not only solidified Oklahoma City’s position, but also ended the Knicks’ nine-game winning streak, their best streak since 2013.
In just the fourth instance in the league’s illustrious 79-year history where two teams each with a winning streak of nine or more have faced off, the Thunder overcame a tenacious Knicks team. Gilgeous-Alexander’s precise shooting was complemented by Jalen Williams, who added 20 points, while Aaron Wiggins chipped in with 19 points off the bench, giving the Thunder’s backups a commanding advantage over their Knicks counterparts, who only managed to score five points.
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Reflecting on his team’s depth, Gilgeous-Alexander praised his teammates: “They made great plays all night long. We have a 15-man roster, professional, really talented basketball players. The guys were ready for their moment.” The Knicks initially took control, ending the second quarter with a 23-10 field goal to take a 66-54 lead, with Mikal Bridges lighting up the scoreboard with 19 of his 24 points in the first half .
However, the Thunder capitalized in the second half, closing the gap and eventually taking the lead on an 8-0 run capped by a crucial three-pointer from Isaiah Joe. With just over two minutes remaining, Wiggins’ three-point play put the Thunder ahead 108-101, allowing them to hold off a resilient comeback attempt from New York. “Our message at halftime was to stay true to who we are. We’ve been down before, and we know how to respond in situations like this,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
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Meanwhile, in a notable performance, French prodigy Victor Wembanyama shined in his 100th NBA game, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a hard-fought 113-110 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Approaching his 21st birthday, Wembanyama contributed significantly with 35 points and 18 rebounds, showing the extent of his skills. He made some decisive plays late in the game, making an assist to Chris Paul for the decisive basket and then intercepting a pass from Nikola Jokic to set up Devin Vassell’s dunk that sealed the victory.
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This season, Wembanyama is averaging an impressive 25.6 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game while maintaining a fearsome three-point shot, making 3.3 three-pointers per game. His performance thus far has largely contributed to a historic debut season, where he became the only player to surpass 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocks, and 100 three-pointers.
In other league play, the NBA’s top-ranked Cleveland Cavaliers continued their dominance with a 134-122 win over the Dallas Mavericks, extending their winning streak to nine games thanks to 34 points and 10 rebounds. by Evan Mobley. The Mavericks went through a difficult period, recording their fourth consecutive defeat without their star Luka Doncic, who suffered a calf injury.
The defending NBA champion Boston Celtics also notched a solid 109-86 victory in Houston, led by Derrick White’s 23 points, while Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard added 20 points each. Meanwhile, in a game featuring the league’s struggling teams, CJ McCollum scored 50 points to lead New Orleans to victory over Washington, while Tristan da Silva led the Orlando Magic to a victory of 106-97 against Toronto.
