Topic / Subject

Thunder survive a late Knicks surge at MSG, winning 103-100 after Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out and OG Anunoby missed a tying three at the buzzer.

TL;DR

New York had a statement chance, but OKC executed late. Towns fouling out and one last miss decided a three-point thriller.

Key Details

• Oklahoma City beat New York 103-100 at Madison Square Garden.

• Chet Holmgren led OKC with 28 points; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 26.

• OG Anunoby missed a potential game-tying three at the buzzer.

• Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 17 rebounds before fouling out late.

• Jalen Brunson finished with 16 points and a season-high 15 assists, but shot 5-for-18.

Breakdown

This was the kind of game the Garden remembers, either way. The Knicks pushed OKC to the edge, but the final possessions leaned Thunder.

Towns fouling out took a major rebound and scoring option off the floor at the worst time. That forced New York into a tighter closing script, with less margin for error.

Brunson’s playmaking was there, and 15 assists shows the offense did create looks. The problem was finishing, and the last possession ended with OG’s three not dropping.

For OKC, this is a clean win that travels. When you can get a road win at MSG in a close game, it says your late-game process is real.

What to Watch Next

• How the Knicks close games when one core player gets into foul trouble.

• Whether New York can get cleaner late-game shots instead of last-second heaves.

• OKC’s continued road-test run against playoff-level environments.

Sources

• Reuters — “Chet Holmgren, Thunder hold off Knicks”

• ESPN — Thunder vs. Knicks recap

Comment

What bothered you more late, Towns fouling out or the final shot quality on that last OG three?