Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a stellar 33-point performance to propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to their 14th consecutive victory with a 117-107 home win over the New York Knicks on Friday, MySportDab Reports.
The Thunder equaled the longest win streak in franchise history, set by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1995-96 season, while snapping the Knicks’ nine-game streak, their longest since 2013.
It was only the fourth time in NBA history that two teams with active winning streaks of at least nine games faced off.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 12-of-26 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. Jalen Williams added 20 points, while Aaron Wiggins contributed 19 off the bench as OKC’s reserves outscored New York’s bench 35-5.
“They made big plays all night,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of his teammates. “We have 15 professionals, 15 skilled basketball players. Guys were ready for their moment.”
New York took a 66-54 halftime lead, with Mikal Bridges scoring 19 of his team-high 24 points in the first half. However, the Thunder chipped away, reducing the deficit to 88-80 by the end of the third quarter.
An 8-0 Oklahoma City run, capped by an Isaiah Joe three-pointer, put them ahead 92-91 with 8:15 left. Another 10-0 burst, highlighted by Wiggins’ three-point play and a three-pointer, gave the Thunder a 108-101 advantage with just over two minutes remaining, sealing the win.
“Our message at halftime was to stick to our identity,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “We’ve been down at halftime in the last few games, but we know it’s a long game and things can change.”
Wembanyama Dominates as Spurs Stun Nuggets
Victor Wembanyama marked his 100th NBA game with a decisive performance, leading San Antonio to a 113-110 win over Denver. The 7-foot-3 Frenchman made two crucial plays in the final seconds, assisting on Chris Paul’s go-ahead jumper with 54 seconds left and stealing a Nikola Jokic pass with four seconds remaining to set up Devin Vassell’s game-clinching dunk.
Wembanyama finished with 35 points, 18 rebounds, and four assists, while Jokic posted 41 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists. The 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year is averaging 25.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.9 blocks this season.
Cavs, Celtics Extend Win Streaks
Evan Mobley’s 34 points and 10 rebounds powered Cleveland (30-4) to a 134-122 victory over Dallas, extending their win streak to nine. The Mavericks, playing without Luka Doncic (calf strain), suffered their fourth consecutive loss.
Meanwhile, Boston’s balanced attack, led by Derrick White (23 points), Jayson Tatum, and Payton Pritchard (20 each), guided the Celtics to a dominant 109-86 win over Houston.
