The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up jaw-dropping numbers against the Knicks

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is extremely good at basketball, and he showed it against New York Knicks. The 2023-24 MVP candidate scored 39 points on 15-21 shooting and made all eight free throws. Key element: This was in 29 minutes and only through three quarters.

The Thunder won 126-101 for their 31st win of the season at Madison Square Garden. Domination is the name of the game for them this season. After a brutal loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, they quickly turned things around. The 25-point win was their biggest since playing the Toronto Raptors in December.

Regardless, Gilgeous-Alexander is building another MVP case. Even without Chet Holmgren, he was the de facto option on offense. While Jaylen Williams has increased his role, it’s the Gilgeous-Alexander show when the game is close. The Thunder relied on it, and the results were plentiful. Friday’s win against the Knicks is just one example of that dominance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander embodied the Thunder against the Knicks

A big part of the mantra for the Thunder is playing together and playing ball unselfishly. Not to mention, they emphasize team defense. As a result, the Knicks shot 39% from the field and 13% from three. However, Oklahoma City had the opposite day on the offensive end.

They shot 54% from the field and 52% from three. Plus, Gilgeous-Alexander was the only starter to score 20+ points on the night. He is the epitome of the franchise. Furthermore, Gilgeous-Alexander released an eye-opening look at his future with the Thunder.

The vibes seem to be in Oklahoma City. The first-place team was the clear leader in the Western Conference. While the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets are catching up, the Thunder are bringing consistent dominance to both ends. The second-best defense in the league has the ability to turn defense into offense.

The star power is extremely evident in Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s another case of the star player taking over the game on his own. It was like that for a long time. When is it The Thunder had a 15-game winning streak, Gilgeous-Alexander was the main proponent of that success.

Losing is not in Oklahoma City’s formula, as evidenced by a 15-game winning streak. After the win against the Knicks, they could use it to start another winning streak. While it’s uncertain whether the streak will be that long, their winning ways aren’t going away anytime soon.

As for Gilgeous-Alexander, he will continue to dominate and be the focal point for the Thunder.