Game #1 Preview | New York Knicks

The Thunder GuysOctober 19, 2017 No Comments

Tip-Off: 7 PM CT

Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, OK)

Television: TNT

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game

After a busy offseason that seemed to drag on forever, Oklahoma City is finally prepared for tip-off of the Thunder’s 10th season. The team looks quite a bit different than it did just a few months ago, and Thunder fans could not be more excited about it. Paul George arrived in Oklahoma City from Indiana when the Thunder traded Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis to the Pacers at the end of June. Just a little under a month ago, the Thunder acquired Carmelo Anthony from the Knicks in exchange for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a 2018 second-round draft pick. With the Thunder’s newly formed Big 3, the sky is the limit.

The Thunder finished preseason action with a 3-2 record, while the Knicks went 0-5, and most of their losses were not even close. Oklahoma City is favored to win tonight, which makes sense considering the Knicks are realistically nowhere near the Thunder in terms of talent level. Tonight’s game will be a good preview of how well this new Thunder squad can play together, and some younger guys could get extended minutes if all goes well.

Projected Starters

Thunder

  • PG: Russell Westbrook
  • SG: Andre Roberson
  • SF: Paul George
  • PF: Carmelo Anthony
  • C: Steven Adams

Knicks

  • PG: Ramon Sessions
  • SG: Courtney Lee
  • SF: Tim Hardaway, Jr.
  • PF: Kristaps Porzingis
  • C: Willy Hernangomez

Injuries

Thunder

  • Patrick Patterson (left knee surgery) is questionable and should be a game-time decision.
  • Raymond Felton (sprained left wrist) is questionable and should be a game-time decision.

Knicks

  • Frank Ntilikina (knee) is no longer on the injury report and is expected to play.

Head-to-Head

  • In nine seasons in Oklahoma City, the Thunder are 12-5 against the Knicks (7-2 at home, 5-3 on the road).
  • The Thunder have won the last three matchups against the Knicks.
  • The Thunder had a season-low five turnovers last year against the Knicks on November 28, 2016.
  • Russell Westbrook tallied a triple-double in both games against the Knicks last year, averaging 32.5 points, 13 assists, and 15.5 rebounds.
  • This is the first of two matchups against the Knicks. The teams play next on December 16, 2017 at 6:30 PM CT in New York.

Game Notes

  • Not only is tonight the start of the 10th regular season, but it is the 300th consecutive sellout at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
  • The Thunder are 8-1 in regular season home openers.
  • Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott return to Oklahoma City for the first time since being traded.
  • The Knicks have seven players that could see the floor tonight that are playing their first regular season game with the Knicks. Tim Hardaway, Jr., played with the Knicks his first two seasons from 2013-2015, but he has been with the Atlanta Hawks the last two years.

Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter and Instagram.

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