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Top Games to Watch: No. 7 Knicks at Thunder

We're counting down the top 10 most exciting Knicks matchups for the upcoming season! Cast your vote on Twitter and Facebook using #NYKSaveTheDate.

7) Knicks at Oklahoma City (November 28, 2014)

When the Knicks head to Oklahoma City on Friday, November 28, all eyes will be on the individual battle between the NBA’s two premier scorers, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant. Both have finished in the top three in scoring in four of the last five seasons – 1-2 in each of the last two – and their matchups have always made for primetime viewing.

The Thunder came up short of another trip to the Finals after winning 59 regular season games a year ago, and boast one of the league’s most explosive offenses, built around Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. But their Western Conference Finals loss to the Spurs showed once again that star power alone isn’t enough to win the ultimate prize.

Armed with playoff-caliber talent, both teams will be working to take the next step this season. For New York, that means mastering the Triangle offense to help take some of the load off Anthony. For Thunder coach Scott Brooks, the key could be better late game execution, when offense can stagnate as Oklahoma City relies on isolation play.

Adding to the challenge of facing the explosive Thunder in front of the raucous OKC crowd, the game marks the end of a brutal stretch for the Knicks that starts in Houston and Dallas.  A successful road trip would go a long way, with Miami, Brooklyn and then Cleveland coming to Madison Square Garden over the next week.

Next up: The Knicks celebrate Christmas at the Garden against Washington.