Highlights: OKC 127, NYK 123 (OT)
GAME RECAP: OKC 127, NYK 123 (OT)
By Paris Lawson | Broadcast and Digital Reporter | okcthunder.com
THE BIG PICTURE
The Thunder put on a show inside of Madison Square Garden as the team took the Knicks into overtime on Valentine’s Day. Undermanned in the third and final game of its road trip, the young Thunder put its composure and poise on display to secure its 127-123 victory. In the effort, three Thunder players scored 20 or more points for the first time this season; Josh Giddey recorded his second-consecutive triple-double and the Thunder shot 50 percent from the field throughout the night.
MOMENTS FROM THE 48
A Fun One in the Garden
There were 12 ties and 13 lead changes between OKC and New York in what was a tightly contested matchup from the very outset.
It all started in the first quarter which was a game of runs in and of itself. OKC jumped out on a 12-4 lead in the opening minutes to force Knicks’s head coach Tom Thibodeau to call a timeout. Out of the break, New York answered by erupting on a 25-9 run of their own to take an eight-point lead. OKC remained poised and tied the ball game behind an 8-0 run. The first stanza would foreshadow the cadence for the remaining three quarters. When New York took a lead, the Thunder answered with one of its own and vice versa.
It was a back and forth battle down the stretch and New York held a slight two-point lead. A big-time drive and reverse layup by Darius Bazley in the final seconds of regulation tied the ball game at 112 and forced the Thunder and the Knicks into five extra minutes of action to determine a winner.
In overtime, the young Thunder showed no signs of intimidation. In fact, the youngest team in the NBA demonstrated its poise and composure by keeping its foot on the gas and maintaining a lead through the entire five minutes. The group shot 55 percent from the field and held the Knicks to just 30 percent on the other end.
“Fun game. The guys really competed, and I thought we really were lost in the competition,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. “I thought we did a good job of the game plan, especially on the offensive end and how we had to attack them. And then obviously enjoyed the atmosphere and the competition. This was obviously a really tough back and forth game. Happy for the guys hanging in there and getting that one.”
“We didn't get sped up. They were trying to throw different coverages at us. Picking it up into full court and I think we did a good job of staying composed,” said Thunder rookie Josh Giddey. “Really fun win, fun place to play and we pulled it off as a group.”
Big Nights for the Rooks
Josh Giddey had this night circled on his calendar. The rookie looked forward to the opportunity to play inside of the World’s Most Famous Arena on one of basketball’s biggest stages. The first-time experience didn’t disappoint, and the rookie didn’t shy from the spotlight.
Giddey finished the night with a career-high 28 points to go along with 12 assists and 11 rebounds marking his second-consecutive triple double and the third of his young NBA career. The Australia native also became just the third player in NBA history to record a triple double in their first game inside the Garden. Giddey became the youngest player to ever record a triple double in NBA history back in January and has become the second and third youngest player to ever do so.
Giddey wasn’t the only rookie who came up big on Monday night. The Thunder’s leading scorer for the night was Tre Mann who also recorded a career-high with 30 points on 9-of-16 from the field and 4-of-7 from three. The former Florida Gator scored eight of the Thunder’s 15 points in overtime as he went a perfect 2-for-2 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
The duo became the only pair of rookies in the past decade to each score 28 or more points in the same game.
Big Bucket Baze
Thunder forward Darius Bazley attacked the middle of the floor guarded by Julius Randle. He swiftly spun back to the baseline and reached for a reverse layup with 5.5 seconds left to tie the ball game 112-112.
Bazley was in attack mode all game. Monday night’s game was the first time the third year forward played in front of fans inside of Madison Square Garden and he soaked up every moment of it.
For the night, Bazley scored 23 points while pulling down eight rebounds. The Ohio native did most of his scoring damage in the third frame where he scored 14 points while going 4-of-5 from the field. All the while, the 6-foot-8 forward alternated between guarding the bruising force of Julius Randle and the shifty shooter of Kemba Walker.
“He just continues to execute on both ends,” said Daigneault. “He's a force defensively, he's great on the glass, made a hell of a play there to tie the game and didn't have a good start offensively. Even that stretch he made two straight threes, he hung in there mentally.”
THE LAST WORD
Darius Bazley on the energy of the game in Madison Square Garden…
“It was super fun. This is my second time playing (in MSG), my first time with the fans and especially when it when it's a good game like that where you’re fighting for the game at the last minute. The crowd really gets into it when they start going on their runs and hitting shots. It was it was crazy. The environment was crazy.”
WHAT'S NEXT
For its final matchup before the All-Star Break, the Thunder returns to Oklahoma City face the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night inside of Paycom Center.