Thunder’s Bench Leads Late Rally to Victory Against Short-Handed Knicks
In a thrilling matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New York Knicks, it was the Thunder’s bench that stole the show, leading a late rally to secure a victory. The Knicks, who were missing several key players, held a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. However, a lineup of mostly backups took over and quickly erased the deficit, much to the surprise of the Thunder’s MVP candidate, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Knicks had a chance to win the game in the final seconds, but Jalen Brunson’s layup was matched by Gilgeous-Alexander’s turnaround jumper, giving the Thunder a one-point lead and ultimately sealing the victory. The loss was a heartbreaker for the Knicks, who have now dropped two games in a row and were not pleased with the officiating.
One of the key factors in the Thunder’s comeback was their bench’s impressive performance. The reserves caught fire and outplayed the Knicks’ backups, a trend that has become all too familiar for New York. This was evident in their previous game against the San Antonio Spurs, where the Knicks struggled to generate offense when Brunson was not on the court.
The collapse without Brunson on Sunday was less typical than others, as the Thunder made 13 of their first 14 shots in the fourth quarter. Brunson’s absence disproportionately affects the Knicks’ offense, as they have been averaging 123.1 points per 100 possessions with him on the court compared to a frigid 103.4 without him.
The Knicks’ struggles without Brunson highlight a larger issue with their roster construction. The team was built to have three more key players in OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson, who were all sidelined due to injuries. With only eight regular-season games remaining, time is running out for the Knicks to integrate these players into their lineup.
Despite the loss, the Knicks put up a strong fight against the Thunder, who currently own the best record in the Western Conference. The team showed resilience and nearly overcame impressive performances from Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey. The Knicks’ ability to challenge a title contender, even with a short-handed squad, is certainly commendable.
Overall, the Thunder’s bench played a crucial role in leading the team to victory against the short-handed Knicks. While the loss was disappointing for New York, it highlighted their reliance on Brunson and the need for their injured players to return. As the regular season winds down, the Knicks will need to find a way to overcome these challenges if they hope to make a deep playoff run.