Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder to Historic 14th Straight Victory
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 33 points to propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to their 14th consecutive victory, defeating the New York Knicks 117-107 on Friday night at home.
This win ties the longest streak in franchise history, last achieved during the 1995-96 season when the team was the Seattle SuperSonics. The Thunder also ended the Knicks' nine-game winning streak, New York’s longest since 2013.
It marked only the fourth instance in NBA history where teams with winning streaks of nine games or more faced each other.
Thunder Shine Across the Board
Canadian star Gilgeous-Alexander shot 12-of-26 from the field and made all seven of his free throws. Jalen Williams contributed 20 points, while Aaron Wiggins scored 19 off the bench. Oklahoma City's reserves outscored New York’s bench 35-5.
“They made big plays all night,” said Gilgeous-Alexander about the Thunder bench. “We’re 15 professionals who are ready for the moment, and that showed tonight.”
Knicks Start Strong, Thunder Rally Late
The Knicks ended the second quarter with a 23-10 run, taking a 66-54 lead into halftime, with Mikal Bridges scoring 19 of his 24 points in the first half.
However, the Thunder stormed back, closing the gap to 88-80 by the end of the third quarter. An 8-0 run early in the fourth, capped by an Isaiah Joe three-pointer, gave Oklahoma City a 92-91 lead with just over eight minutes left.
A crucial 10-0 Thunder run late in the game, highlighted by Wiggins' three-point play and a clutch three-pointer, sealed the victory.
Wembanyama’s Milestone Performance
Victor Wembanyama celebrated his 100th NBA game in style, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 113-110 win over the Denver Nuggets. On the eve of his 21st birthday, Wembanyama showcased his versatility by assisting on Chris Paul’s go-ahead jumper and stealing a Nikola Jokic pass in the final seconds, setting up Devin Vassell’s game-sealing dunk.
In a thrilling matchup of superstar big men, Wembanyama tallied 35 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks. Jokic countered with 41 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists.
Other NBA Action
- Cavaliers Stay Hot: Cleveland improved to an NBA-best 30-4, defeating Dallas 134-122. Evan Mobley led with 34 points and 10 rebounds.
- Celtics Cruise: Boston dominated Houston 109-86, with Derrick White scoring 23 and Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard adding 20 each.
- Pelicans Prevail: C.J. McCollum erupted for 50 points as New Orleans outlasted Washington 132-120.
- Orlando’s Rising Star: Tristan da Silva scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Magic past Toronto 106-97.
- Pistons Edge Hornets: Tobias Harris tallied 24 points to help Detroit secure a 98-94 win over Charlotte.
Wembanyama’s spectacular performance and Oklahoma City’s continued dominance were the highlights of a thrilling night in the NBA.