Thunder got the boost that they needed from their second group and preponderated 101–89 over the Knicks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, Hamidou Diallo scored a season-high 23 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame first half to beat the New York Knicks 101–89 on Friday night.
RJ Barrett scored 19 points, Julius Randle finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and the Knicks allowed the Thunder to ravage their three-game winning streak.
“From top to bottom, we just didn’t get it done,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We’re capable of doing much better than we did.”
“I just felt like today on both ends of the floor, for whatever reason, we just didn’t play for each other and it happens,” Randle said. “You go through that, but the biggest thing is that we nip it in the bud right now and take care of it right now and get back to playing unselfish, playing for each other.”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised Hamidou Diallo and the reserves who amplified the team offensively:
“They really amped it up and then we carried it through the rest of the game,” Daigneault said.
A record 4–4 for a team that traded all their stars, gathered as many draft picks as they could, along with young talent — it’s not that bad. They need some time to flourish and also build a bond that will look promising in the future.
The Knicks had and still have a team that is not coordinated and don’t play defense allowing the opposition to get to the basket with ease. I really wonder what Austin Rivers and Julius Randle are doing over there, but I guess someone has to play for this team.