Tip-Off: 6 PM CT
Location: Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Television: FSOK, ESPN
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
Less than three months ago, Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti made waves across the league when he traded Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a second-round draft pick to the New York Knicks in exchange for Carmelo Anthony. Anthony waved his no-trade clause, which was an act of faith that he wanted to be in Oklahoma City and that he was committed to doing what it would take to win. Chemistry has not been as easy as some would have hoped, but coming off perhaps his best game of the season, he will undoubtedly want to perform well in front of his former team and city.
The New York Knicks were expected to be scraping the bottom of the NBA for wins that would assuredly come few and far between, but the Knicks have done quite well for themselves so far. New York struggled out of the gate, losing their first three games of the season, but the Knicks currently sit at eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 15-13 record. Some expect New York to boo Carmelo Anthony, while others expect him to be warmly welcomed. No matter how he is received, Anthony will want to play well and ultimately get a win.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Andre Roberson
- SF: Paul George
- PF: Carmelo Anthony
- C: Dakari Johnson
Knicks
- PG: Jarrett Jack
- SG: Courtney Lee
- SF: Lance Thomas
- PF: Kristaps Porzingis
- C: Enes Kanter
Injuries
Thunder
- Steven Adams (concussion protocol) is out.
Knicks
- Kristaps Porzingis (sore left knee) is questionable.
- Tim Hardaway, Jr. (stress injury, lower left left) is out.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 13-5 against the Knicks (8-2 at home, 5-3 on the road).
- In nine seasons, the Thunder has won the season series with the Knicks four times and split it five times.
- The Thunder has won four consecutive matchups with the Knicks.
- The Thunder and the Knicks opened up the 20017-18 regular seasons against one on another in Oklahoma City on October 19, 2017. The Thunder won 105-84.
- The Thunder forced a season-high 26 turnovers against the Knicks on October 19th.
- Russell Westbrook’s 16 assists against the Knicks on October 19th is tied for his season-high.
Game Notes
- The Thunder has won six of the last eight games, while the Knicks have won three in a row.
- Oklahoma City is 6-4 in the last ten games, while New York is 5-5.
- Oklahoma City is 7-4 against the Eastern Conference, while New York is 7-4 against the Western Conference.
- Oklahoma City is 2-2 in the second game of a back-to-back, while New York is 10-6 in games when they have one day of rest.
- Oklahoma City is 5-10 on the road, but winning the Thunder has won three road games in a row. New York is 13-5 at home and has won three home games in a row.
- The Thunder has a chance to get above .500 on the season for the first time since being 4-3 on October 31st.
Be sure to check out our most recent segment of “Thunder Things with the Thunder Guys.”
Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter & Instagram, and give us a like on Facebook.