Thunder bounce back to rout Knicks 126-101 in first game since end of 15-game win streak

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points in 29 minutes, and the Oklahoma City Thunder emphatically bounced back to rout the New York Knicks 126-101 on Friday night in the first game since their 15-game winning streak was snapped.

Isaiah Joe added 23 of his 31 points in the first half for the Thunder, who were coming off a 129-122 loss at NBA-leading Cleveland on Wednesday in the biggest game of the season thus far. There was no hangover at Madison Square Garden, where Oklahoma City had a 36-12 run in the first half en route to a 70-43 lead.

Jalen Brunson scored 27 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 in the Knicks’ fourth loss in five games, a stretch that began when the Thunder used a big fourth quarter to win 117-107 last Friday and snap New York’s nine-game winning streak.

No big finish needed this time. The Thunder had the game in hand by halftime.

Takeaway
Oklahoma City made it clear quickly it wasn’t letting Wednesday’s loss linger and gave coach Mark Daigneault an easy one on a night when he wasn’t feeling well and wore a mask at times.

Key Moment
Oklahoma City closed the first quarter with a 12-0 spurt to lead 31-17. The Thunder then unleashed a 19-5 run over more than six minutes of the second to extend a 12-point lead to 55-29. Joe got 11 points in that stretch.

Key Stat
Adding Oklahoma City’s 37-19 advantage in the decisive fourth quarter last Friday to its 31-17 lead after the first period of this game, the Thunder outscored the Knicks 68-36 over consecutive quarters.

Up Next
The Thunder visit Washington on Sunday night.