Thumbnail: Gamba The Bard (@GambatheBard on X)
The New York Knicks split a back-to-back featuring the Toronto Raptors and the Oklahoma City Thunder. New York beat the Raptors 111-95, then lost to OKC 103-100.
The Knicks trailed for almost the entire first quarter against Toronto, but the second unit came in and sparked the offense, helping them reclaim the lead. New York built its lead on strong defense, pace, and ball movement. This marked the third-straight game that all starters were in double-digits scoring.
New York showed fatigue against the Thunder at MSG. They struggled to get clean looks and missed the open shots they got throughout a low-scoring first half. Karl-Anthony Towns helped keep the game within reach, so that a scoring push from Jalen Brunson and Landry Shamet could complete a comeback to start the fourth quarter.
Unfortunately, the Knicks’ tired legs and some one-sided refereeing left the Knicks to come up just short. The Thunder clung to a lead, as Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby missed game-tying opportunities in the final ten seconds.
The Knicks completed a brutal three-game stretch in four nights with two out of three wins. They took the defending champions to the brink before finally losing. Let’s review their back-to-back through player performances, because these results call for optimism.
