NBA Recap: Thunder Dominate Knicks, Celtics Fall to Kings
The Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back from a loss to the Cavaliers with a 126-101 win over the New York Knicks, while the Boston Celtics suffered a surprising defeat at home.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe formed a dynamic duo, combining for 70 points to propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to a resounding 126-101 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
The Thunder's win marked a swift rebound from their disappointing loss to the top-ranked Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Oklahoma City had entered that matchup with high expectations but ultimately suffered a humbling defeat.
However, the Thunder showed no lingering effects from that setback, instead delivering a dominant performance against the Knicks. A potent first-quarter display saw Oklahoma City establish a commanding 31-17 lead, forcing the Knicks into damage control for the remainder of the game.
The Thunder maintained their relentless pace in the second quarter, scoring 39 points to establish a commanding 70-43 halftime lead. This substantial advantage proved insurmountable for the Knicks, who were unable to mount a meaningful comeback.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for the Thunder, producing a spectacular individual performance. He finished with 39 points, shooting 15-of-21 from the field, while Isaiah Joe provided a significant spark off the bench. Joe drained eight three-pointers, contributing 31 points to the Thunder's dominant display.
The Thunder's victory extended their lead at the top of the Western Conference standings to 31-6, with a six-game cushion over the second-placed Houston Rockets. This impressive margin underscores Oklahoma City's status as a formidable force in the league.
NBA Roundup: Upsets and Thrilling Performances
The Boston Celtics suffered a stunning 114-97 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday. DeMar DeRozan led the scoring with 24 points, but the standout performance came from center Domantas Sabonis, who finished with 23 points and a remarkable 28 rebounds. Malik Monk added 22 points, and Keegan Murray contributed 19. The Celtics' struggles were largely due to their subpar offense, which shot at 40.5% and made only 11 of 41 three-point attempts.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged the team's inefficient offense, stating, “When you're having inefficient offense, it puts pressure on your defense. And if you're only going to shoot 28% from three, it means you're going to have to do a lot of other things really, really, really well. We've got to do better.”
In another exciting matchup, Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a 41-point masterpiece to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 109-106 win over the Orlando Magic. Antetokounmpo also grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out four assists, and recorded three steals and two blocks. Damian Lillard provided support with 29 points. Magic star Paolo Banchero returned from a 34-game absence due to injury, scoring 34 points, but it was not enough to secure a win for Orlando.
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 11, 2025
The New Orleans Pelicans demonstrated their strength in depth by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 123-115 despite the absence of Zion Williamson, who was serving a one-game suspension. C.J. McCollum led the scoring with 38 points, while Tyrese Maxey topped the Sixers' scoring with 30 points. Paul George finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
The Indiana Pacers added to the Golden State Warriors' woes with a 108-96 victory in Indianapolis.
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