Grading Knicks Players After Disappointing 107-117 Loss To Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder stormed back in the fourth quarter to defeat the New York Knicks 117-107 on Friday night, extending their winning streak to 14 games. The Thunder trailed by eight entering the final period but outscored the Knicks 37-19 to claim their 29th victory of the season.

Jalen Williams added 20 points, while Aaron Wiggins erupted for 15 of his 19 points in the decisive fourth quarter. Wiggins sparked a 25-10 run midway through the period, drilling three 3-pointers and completing a three-point play to help Oklahoma City erase a 97-92 deficit. Isaiah Hartenstein, facing his former team for the first time, contributed 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Thunder, who have now rallied from deficits in three consecutive games.

New York, riding a nine-game winning streak, looked poised to prevail after building a 66-54 halftime lead. Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 24 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns dominated the boards with 17 points and 22 rebounds. Jalen Brunson scored 22, OG Anunoby added 20, and Josh Hart chipped in 19, but the Knicks faltered late as Oklahoma City dictated the pace in the fourth.

The Thunder’s sharp shooting proved decisive, as they hit 14 of 27 from beyond the arc (51.9%) compared to the Knicks’ 9-of-32 (21.8%). New York became the latest victim of Oklahoma City’s late-game heroics, as the Thunder waited until the fourth to seize control, and we grade the Knicks players after this disappointing loss. 

Karl-Anthony Towns: A-

Stats: 17 PTS, 22 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 7-13 FG, 0-0 3PT, 3-4 FT, -6, 42 MIN

Towns dominated the boards with 22 rebounds, ensuring the Knicks had multiple second-chance opportunities. Offensively, he added 17 points on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting and chipped in 4 assists and 3 steals, showcasing his versatility. However, despite his outstanding individual effort, the Knicks’ inability to close out the game overshadowed his strong performance. His presence in the paint was critical, but the team needed more from him in crunch time to secure the win.

Mikal Bridges: B+

Stats: 24 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 10-19 FG, 4-11 3PT, 0-0 FT, -10, 41 MIN

Bridges led the Knicks in scoring with 24 points, hitting 4-of-11 from deep. While his offensive output was solid, he struggled to create separation in the second half and went scoreless in the critical final minutes. He contributed on both ends with a steal and a block but failed to elevate the Knicks when the Thunder’s fourth-quarter run took over.

Jalen Brunson: B+

Stats: 22 PTS, 3 REB, 9 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 9-23 FG, 0-5 3PT, 4-6 FT, -3, 40 MIN

Brunson orchestrated the Knicks' offense with 9 assists and contributed 22 points, although he was inefficient, shooting just 9-of-23 from the field and missing all 5 of his 3-point attempts. His decision-making and playmaking kept the Knicks competitive early, but he struggled to control the game’s tempo in the fourth quarter when the Thunder took charge.

OG Anunoby: B+

Stats: 20 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 7-13 FG, 3-7 3PT, 3-3 FT, -12, 43 MIN

Anunoby provided consistent scoring, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting and hitting 3-of-7 from three. While he was efficient offensively, his impact on the boards and defensive presence were limited, with just 2 rebounds and no steals or blocks. The Knicks needed more from him defensively to contain the Thunder's fourth-quarter surge.

Josh Hart: B+

Stats: 19 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 8-15 FG, 2-7 3PT, 1-2 FT, -12, 44 MIN

Hart contributed 19 points and 7 rebounds, playing with his trademark hustle and energy. He shot efficiently at 8-of-15 from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, going 2-of-7. Despite his effort, Hart’s inability to convert late-game opportunities and his 4 personal fouls limited his overall impact as the Thunder seized momentum.

Landry Shamet: C

Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +3, 14 MIN

Shamet played limited minutes, contributing just 2 points and 2 assists. While he was efficient in his small role, shooting 1-of-2, his lack of impact on both ends was evident. He provided a little spark off the bench during crucial stretches, leaving the Knicks relying heavily on their starters.

Precious Achiuwa: N/A

Stats: 3 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT, -3, 8 MIN

Achiuwa was active in his brief 8 minutes on the court, grabbing 5 rebounds and scoring 3 points. However, his limited playing time and inefficiency (1-of-4 FG) meant he couldn’t provide the inside presence the Knicks needed against the Thunder’s late run.

Cameron Payne: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -7, 8 MIN

Payne’s 8-minute stint was forgettable, as he failed to score, record an assist, or make any significant impact. His 2 personal fouls during his short time on the floor further hindered his ability to contribute meaningfully in this game.