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Reading: Instant Analysis: Knicks Were Outmatched In Blowout Home Loss To Thunder
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > New York Knicks News & Analysis > Instant Analysis: Knicks Were Outmatched In Blowout Home Loss To Thunder

Instant Analysis: Knicks Were Outmatched In Blowout Home Loss To Thunder

Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks Knicks are defeated on their home court by the Thunder.

Nico Martinez
Jan 11, 2025
6 Min Read
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Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

It was a tense scene in Madison Square Garden tonight as the New York Knicks went for their 26th win of the season against the top team in the West. Unfortunately for Knicks fans, it was the Thunder who came out on top in this one and cruised to a victory on the road.

Contents
  • Defensive Struggles For The Knicks
  • Thunder Depth Made The Difference
  • Major Shooting Slump Stalled The Knicks’ Offense

The tone was set early in the game today as the Thunder opened on a 31-17 run in the first 12 minutes. The deficit only got worse for the Knicks in the second quarter, who slipped even further as a team to give Oklahoma City a 27-point lead at halftime. The rest of the game was basically on cruise control until the final buzzer sounded to finalize the score (126-101).

It was another masterclass in scoring from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished the game with 39 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals on 15-21 shooting. Off the bench, Isaiah Joe dropped 31 points and 2 assists on 11-15 shooting. Budding star swingman Jalen Williams totaled 19 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds on 8-16 shooting.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson was the star of the show, scoring 27 points and 5 assists on 7-15 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns put up 23 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes while Josh Hart finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals on 6-13 shooting.

For two teams with title ambitions, this was a major test to see how they hold up against tough competition. The Thunder responded better tonight with an all-around great performance compared to the Knicks, who were seemingly outmatched and outplayed at every turn.


Defensive Struggles For The Knicks

Under head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks have taken pride in having a tough and resilient defense capable of stopping any team in their path. But ever since the Julius Randle trade, the Knicks have seen some slippage defensively and tonight was one of their worst performances of the year.

The Knicks had no answers for SGA, who finished with 39 points and led the Thunder to a red-hot 53.9% shooting from the field (51.9% from three). The Knicks have seemingly collapsed defensively and they are having particular difficulty getting out to defend the perimeter.

With the acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns, many experts predicted that the Knicks would experience a decline in defense but they can’t afford to let it slip to these low standards. Whether it’s a rotation change or a roster adjustment, the Knicks need to address their defensive woes if they want to be true contenders and challenge the likes of the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Bucks in the East.


Thunder Depth Made The Difference

The NBA is a star-driven league, but no star can do it alone and all of the best teams have a balanced roster of talented players at every position. The Knicks have one of the best starting fives in the game but they lack depth off the bench and it’s a problem that everyone noticed tonight.

Only two reserves made more than two shots for the Knicks tonight, Cameron Payne and Miles McBridge, who combined for 18 points. Meanwhile, the Thunder got 50 points from their bench tonight who provided a major boost on offense.

Low contributions from the role-players only put more strain on guys like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns to pick up the slack and take over the game. Of course, they weren’t able to save their team today and it resulted in an ugly blowout loss at home.


Major Shooting Slump Stalled The Knicks’ Offense

With Brunson, Towns, and Mikal Bridges, shooting shouldn’t be a problem for the Knicks but they are in a massive slump right now that is threatening to destabilize their season. Tonight, they went 4-32 (12.5%) from beyond the arc and many of their key players couldn’t buy a bucket from three.

It’s been a recurring theme for the Knicks this season and it’s been especially bad in the last 10 games. During that span, the Knicks are shooting just 28% from three on relatively low volume.

In the modern NBA, shooting is everything and if the Knicks can’t hit their threes consistently, it will limit how far they can go in the Eastern playoffs. While many fans are calling for a new head coach, it could be that the Knicks need more time to get used to their new roster and adjust to the new rotation.

At 25-14, the Knicks are still 3rd in the East and within striking range of a top-two seed in the Conference. However, for a team that sacrificed its entire future to build this roster, failure is not an option. With their best collection of talent in years, now is the best chance for the Knicks to make a run and if they can just address some of their glaring issues it may be enough for them to have a major breakout moment.

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Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:New York Knicks ArchiveOklahoma City Thunder Archive
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ByNico Martinez
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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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