Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points and Isaiah Joe had a season-high 31 points off the bench Friday night for the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, who routed the New York Knicks 126-101.
The Western Conference-leading Thunder, whose franchise-record 15-game winning streak was snapped in a 129-122 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, led by as many as 30 points in the second half as they completed a season sweep of the Knicks. Oklahoma City earned a 117-107 home win over New York on Jan. 3.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 30 points for the 22nd time this season. Joe finished two points shy of his career high and logged the most points by a Thunder reserve since Dennis Schroder had 31 points against the Orlando Magic on Jan. 22, 2020.
Jalen Williams added 19 points for the Thunder.
Karl-Anthony Towns (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Josh Hart (16 points, 13 rebounds) each had a double-double for the Knicks, who have lost four of five since a nine-game winning streak. Jalen Brunson scored 27 points while going 12-of-12 from the free-throw line, and Cameron Payne added 11 points.
The teams got off to an ice-cold start by combining to miss 14 of their first 15 shots while scoring two points apiece over the first 4 1/2 minutes. The teams then scored 32 points combined over a five-minute span before the Thunder began taking control by scoring 12 unanswered points in the final 2:07 to expand their lead to 31-17.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Joe combined for nine points in the surge.
Williams opened the second with a floater for the Thunder, who went ahead by 20 points for the first time at 44-24 on Joe’s three-point play. Joe’s 3-pointer with 1:47 remaining gave Oklahoma City its biggest first-half lead at 65-37 before the visitors entered the locker room with a 70-43 lead.
The Knicks got no closer than 22 in the second half. The Thunder opened a 28-point lead seven times in the third before leading by 30 twice in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
Jaden McDaniels scored 30 points, Anthony Edwards had 29, and the Minnesota Timberwolves finished strong for a 116-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their Western…
Gary Trent Jr. and Giannis Antetokounmpo each scored 37 points while leading the Bucks to a comeback 117-101 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Friday, cutting Milwaukee’s deficit in…
Wolves pull away to beat Lakers, take 2-1 series lead
Gary Trent Jr. leads Bucks to comeback win over Pacers
Magic hold off Celtics at home, avoid 3-0 hole
Jimmy Butler’s Game 3 status uncertain as Warriors prepare to host Rockets