A controversial whistle, a 24–9 run, and a finish nobody could quite believe: Thunder at Knicks

A marquee showdown at Madison Square Garden between the reigning NBA champions and the NBA Cup winners – the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New York Knicks – finally faced off this season in a game that had all the feel of a potential Finals preview. In the end, the visitors prevailed 103–100, showing greater consistency and resilience across most of the night. Yet New York, despite not producing its best performance, pushed Oklahoma City to the brink until the final second.

Thunder victories in the Big Apple are hardly unusual anymore – this marked their eighth straight win in New York. This one was powered by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but above all by Chet Holmgren, the game’s standout performer and leading scorer. Holmgren finished with 28 points, including six three-pointers. He erupted early, scoring 14 points in the opening quarter alone while hitting four shots from beyond the arc. His only two missed attempts came after being blocked by defenders. Oklahoma City controlled the tempo without overwhelming their opponent, gradually building leads that stretched past 10 points.

One of the night’s most controversial moments arrived at the end of the first quarter when officials declined to call a foul by Gilgeous-Alexander on Jalen Brunson during a drive to the basket. The Canadian guard collided with Brunson even though the Knicks star appeared to have established position. Had it been called, it would have been Gilgeous-Alexander’s third personal foul. Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacted furiously, shouting at an official from inches away and drawing his first technical foul since taking charge in New York.

It was not the only disputed decision, though it was the most loudly protested, and it left the Knicks feeling aggrieved about the overall officiating balance. Still, they refused to fold – even when trailing by 15 points early in the second half (63–48 with 8:45 left in the third quarter). New York responded with its best stretch of the night, unleashing a 24–9 run capped by a Brunson three-pointer that tied the game at 80. Moments later, Mikal Bridges buried another triple on the final possession of the third quarter, giving the Knicks their first lead since the opening minutes and sending the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy.

The surge, however, proved short-lived. Oklahoma City kept its composure and slowly regained control, managing small but crucial leads down the stretch to keep New York within reach but never quite level. The Knicks had two chances to force overtime on the final possession – one three-point attempt from Brunson and another from OG Anunoby – but neither shot fell.

Elsewhere around the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets dominated the Boston Celtics 118–89, the Philadelphia 76ers edged the Utah Jazz 106–102, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 122–114, the Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 131–113, and the Los Angeles Clippers routed the Indiana Pacers 130–107.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.