Thunder defeat Knicks in potential NBA Finals preview: Highlights

NEW YORK — Two looks, and they both hit rim.

After clawing back from an eight-point deficit with just fewer than three minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the New York Knicks got a pair of clean looks with seconds left in their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Yet, in what could be a potential NBA Finals preview, it was the Thunder who escaped Wednesday, March 4 with a 103-100 victory to improve their record to 49-15, the best mark in the NBA.

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren led all players with 28 points, 22 of which came in the first half.

Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 26 points and 8 assists, extending his streak of consecutive games with at least 20 points scored to 124.

Throughout the game, the Knicks tried to force the ball out of Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands, and he repeatedly made the right pass to open Thunder players.

The Knicks had six players reach double figures, with Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. He also hauled in a game-high 17 rebounds, though he fouled out late in the game.

The Knicks fell to 40-23.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights from Wednesday night’s Oklahoma City Thunder-New York Knicks game:

Thunder vs. Knicks highlights

End Q4: Thunder 103, Knicks 100

They got two open looks to tie the game, but both rimmed out.

Coach Mike Brown drew up a play that got Jalen Brunson an open look at a would-be game-tying 3 in the left corner. Brunson put up the shot but it bounced off the rim. The ball was tipped out to Knicks forward OG Anunoby near the top of the key. Anunoby scooped the ball, stepped back, but the shot fell short and bounced off front rim.

Simply put, the Knicks went cold at the wrong time. New York, which entered the fourth quarter with a three-point lead, shot just 33.3% in the final period, eventually ceding the lead to the Thunder.

Oklahoma City capitalized and attacked the paint, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hitting a few big baskets late, none other than a stepback 3, Oklahoma City’s final bucket.

Knicks down 3 with 6.0 seconds left to play

New York has battled back and has the chance to tie the game at 103. Coach Mike Brown called a timeout to draw up a play. Both teams are in the bonus, so the Thunder may opt to put New York on the line.

Thunder reclaim lead

After getting a quick blow on the bench, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has returned for Oklahoma City, which is now up 91-86, with 6:33 left to play in the game.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who has 21 points, extended his streak of consecutive games with at least 20 points to 124, which is just two behind Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126.

Josh Hart returns to the floor

After leaving the game early in the third quarter with an apparent back injury, Knicks forward Josh Hart has returned to the game.

End Q3: Knicks 80, Thunder 77

It’s not that the Thunder shot poorly in the third quarter — they converted their attempts at a 46.7% clip — it’s that they took seven fewer shots than the Knicks did.

And with those attempts, New York capitalized. The Knicks shot 14-of-22 (63.6%) from the floor in the third quarter to erase a 10-point deficit at the start of the quarter. And with the final shot of the third, a corner 3 from Mikal Bridges, the Knicks took their first lead since very early in the second quarter. Five different Knicks are scoring double figures, with Karl-Anthony Towns — who remains a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor — leading the team with 15 points.

For the Thunder, turnovers were the main issue in the third. After Chet Holmgren dropped 22 points in the first half, he failed to score a single point in the third. He continues to lead the team, though Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has added 19 points and 7 assists.

Knicks tie it up

The New York run in the third quarter has continued. The Thunder have committed several turnovers in the period, and a Jalen Brunson 3 that clanked off the rim before caroming off the backboard and through the net tied the game at 72 apiece with 2:56 left in the third quarter.

Alex Caruso heads to locker room

After taking a hard fall when attempting to haul in a rebound, Alex Caurso fell onto the court and immediately grabbed at his leg. He was slow to get up and trudged toward the bench, where he spoke briefly with a trainer. The two went into the locker room, though Caruso reemerged shortly after.

Knicks close the gap

New York has gone on an 11-4 run to close the deficit to 6 points with 5:28 left in the third quarter. Landry Shamet has come off the bench to spark the run with a couple of scoop layups, while Mikale Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns have also added baskets.

The Thunder are up 67-61.

Josh Hart heads to locker room

After airballing a corner 3 with 10:50 to play in the third quarter, Knicks forward Josh Hart immediately clutched at his lower back in apparent discomfort. At the next whistle, Hart took himself out of the game and headed into the New York locker room with a trainer.

After several minutes, Hart reemerged and took his spot on the bench, still grimacing. A trainer placed a black band around his chest and back.

Knicks post their lowest scoring first half of the season

New York, which shot just 35.6% from the floor in the first half, scored just 40 points before intermission, marking its lowest scoring first half of the 2025-26 season so far. The previous low was 42 points, which came Feb. 6 in an eventual 38-point loss against the Pistons.

End Q2: Thunder 50, Knicks 40

Although both these teams are playing the second legs of back-to-backs that started in different cities, it was the Knicks who displayed that more in the first half.

New York struggled to find the bottom of the net in the second period, shooting just 7-of-22 (31.8%) Oklahoma City emphasized closing out, contesting New York’s perimeter shots and rarely giving away an open look.

Jalen Brunson shot just 1-of-8 in the half for 2 points, while center Karl-Anthony Towns attempted just 4 shots, though he made each one, scoring 9 points. Mohamed Diawara also has a team-high 9 points.

The Thunder, meanwhile, are playing in control. They’re shooting a reasonable 46.3% from the floor, but they’re merely looking for the best shot available. As the Knicks have thrown bodies at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the ball has swung around to find the open player. More often than not, that has been Chet Holmgren, who leads all players with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including a blistering 6-of-8 (75%) from 3-point range.

Gilgeous-Alexander has added 11 points, but has a team-high 7 assists.

The Knicks’ plan for SGA

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has started this game extremely well. He has been an efficient 4-of-7 from the floor — with no 3 pointers attempted — for 9 points. But the Knicks are closing his lanes to penetrate as soon as he attacks the paint. This is not at all dissimilar from the way other teams defend SGA, but he’s quickly getting the ball out of his hands to find open teammates.

And, if they’re not immediately open, OKC players have swung the ball around to find that open look. Gilgeous-Alexander leads all Thunder players with 5 assists.

As the Thunder have settled, they’ve also opened their biggest lead of the game, 13 points, at 44-31.

End Q1: Thunder 25, Knicks 23

In many ways, this was a quarter the Knicks should’ve lost by a lot more.

They shot just 39.1% from the floor, and All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson finished the period just 1-of-5 for 2 points. They lost the rebounding battle by four. Yet, New York overcame early shooting struggles to get key stops on the Thunder late in the first to keep things manageable.

Chet Holmgren was the star for Oklahoma City, leading all players with 14 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in 9 on 4-of-5 shooting and added 2 assists.

The Knicks, meanwhile, have Mohamed Diawara to thank for this not being out of hand. He came off the bench and instantly drained a pair of 3s and also swiped the ball out of Jared McCain’s hands for a steal that led to a Landry Shamet bucket. His play seemed to invigorate the Knicks, who had six different players score at least one point in the first quarter. Diawara and OG Anunoby tied for a team-high 6 points in the period.

Knicks coach Mike Brown was also called for a technical foul after he argued a non-call on a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drive, when Brown thought that Jalen Brunson had drawn a charge. Brown appeared to make like contact with the official, who only assessed the one tech.

Chet Holmgren comes out aggressive

As Oklahoma City has moved the ball around, it has often found forward Chet Holmgren, who has started the game 5-of-7 (including 4-of-6 from 3) for a game-high 14 points.

In fact, with 3:32 left to play in the period, he has outscored the Knicks entire team, which is 5-of-17.

Thunder vs. Knicks is underway

The Thunder came out strong and dictated pace, draining five of their first six field goal attempts. OKC pushed pace and moved the ball around to compromise New York’s defense, which was slow to help.

The Knicks, however, made their first shot before having their following five clank out. New York is getting quality looks, they’re just not dropping, particularly from 3; the Knicks have started the game just 1-of-6 (16.7%) from beyond the arc.

Despite that, New York is only down 17-10 midway through the period.

The MVP shows up to MSG dressed to the nines

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, similar to many teams who get hyped up to play in this iconic venue, tend to play well here. It’s the one trip Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will make here this season — barring any potential matchup in the NBA Finals.

In case this is indeed his one trip here, SGA made it count with his pre-game look.

Thunder vs. Knicks starting lineups

Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Luguentz Dort
Cason Wallace
Chet Holmgren
Isaiah Hartenstein

New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson
Mikal Bridges
OG Anunoby
Josh Hart
Karl-Anthony Towns

Thunder vs. Knicks injury report

After missing Tuesday night’s game against the Bulls, reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not on the injury report and is expected to play.