Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the hero for the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday night, sinking a clutch fadeaway jumper with just 2.6 seconds remaining to secure a thrilling 113-112 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This win clinches the Thunder’s first playoff berth since 2020.
Giddey Shines with Triple-Double:
Josh Giddey put in a masterful performance for the OKC, recording his third career triple-double – all remarkably coming against the Knicks. He finished with a well-rounded stat line of 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, with a crucial 12 points coming in the pivotal fourth quarter.
“It’s the most famous arena in the world,” Giddey said about Madison Square Garden. “It’s a special place to play. Triple-doubles or not, I just try to go out there, play the right way, and those things kind of fall into place.”
Jalen Williams Leads the Scoring Charge:
Jalen Williams paced the Thunder in scoring with 33 points, showcasing his offensive prowess. Gilgeous-Alexander, despite not having his best night, chipped in with 19 points to contribute to the winning effort.
Knicks Fall Short Despite Brunson’s Heroics:
The Knicks, despite valiant efforts, fell short of securing the win. Jalen Brunson poured in a game-high 30 points, but his potential game-winning jumper in the final seconds rimmed out. Deuce McBride and Donte DiVincenzo added valuable contributions with 19 and 15 points, respectively.
Heartbreaking Finish for New York:
With the Thunder leading 111-110 with seconds ticking away, Brunson converted a layup to give the Knicks a glimmer of hope. However, Gilgeous-Alexander answered back with a turnaround jumper over McBride, silencing the Madison Square Garden crowd. Brunson’s final attempt at the buzzer fell short, sealing the victory for the Thunder.
Disappointment for the Knicks:
Isaiah Hartenstein and Josh Hart provided strong performances for the Knicks with double-doubles (17 points, 12 rebounds and 13 points, 15 rebounds respectively). However, the two consecutive losses, both coming down to the wire, leave a bitter taste for New York.
“It hurts,” said Hartenstein. “We’ve had two games where we had great shots. That’s the more disappointing thing.”
Looking Ahead:
The Thunder will celebrate their return to the playoffs and look to build momentum on their two-game winning streak as they travel to Philadelphia to face the 76ers on Tuesday night. The Knicks, meanwhile, will try to regroup and bounce back from their heartbreaking losses when they visit Miami to take on the Heat on Tuesday.
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