Knicks Fall Short Against Thunder in Key Fourth Quarter Battle
The Knicks struggled to maintain their lead, allowing the Thunder to rally and secure a crucial victory in the final quarter of the game
Knicks, Thunder, Oklahoma City, NBA, Tom Thibodeau, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart
Oklahoma City: What a game that was! The Knicks and Thunder really went at it on Friday night. The Knicks had a solid eight-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Thunder turned up the heat and snatched the win.
So, what went wrong for New York? Well, they struggled big time in the final quarter. They shot just 41 percent, and their three-point shooting was even worse at 1-for-9. Meanwhile, the Thunder were on fire, hitting 70 percent of their shots and nailing six threes.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said it all came down to a few key plays. He pointed out that the Thunder were quicker to loose balls and made some big shots when it mattered most. It was a tough loss, for sure.
Mikal Bridges mentioned how the Thunder just had that extra push at the end. They got open looks and capitalized on their chances. Josh Hart echoed that sentiment, saying they just didn’t execute like they should have in the fourth quarter.
One player who really stepped up for the Thunder was Aaron Wiggins. He was perfect from the field in the final quarter, hitting all his shots, including four threes. That was a game-changer.
There was also a crucial moment when former Knick Isaiah Hartenstein made a hustle play, saving an air ball and kicking it out for a three-pointer. Those little things can really swing a game.
New York came into this game riding a nine-game winning streak, while the Thunder were on a 13-game run. It was a rare matchup of two teams with such impressive streaks.
Now, the Knicks have to shake this off quickly as they head to Chicago to face the Bulls. They’ll need their bench to step up, especially since they were pretty quiet in this game.
Thibodeau knows they have to refocus and fix their mistakes. They’ll get another shot at the Thunder next Friday at The Garden, so there’s a chance to bounce back.