Knicks' Momentum Struck Down By Thunder

A holiday hangover and a career night for Jalen Williams prevented the New York Knicks from building momentum against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.

Like many others across the country this week, the New York Knicks were rudely awakened from a Christmas high by a swift punch from reality as the work week continued. 

Holiday malaise defined the opener of a three-game road trip for the Knicks, whose comeback effort went for naught in a 129-120 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 25 points and nine rebounds while Immanuel Quickley sank 22 off the bench, his fourth double decalogue in the last five games. 

Oklahoma City's main attraction, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did a little bit of everything in the win, leading the way with 36 points (his fifth consecutive game with at least 30) as well as six assists, five rebounds, and a pair of blocks and steals. 

Those gathered at Paycom Center also enjoyed a career night from Jalen Williams, who partly built a matching 36-point showcase on a perfect 5-of-5 effort from three-point range (part of a 13-of-17 night overall). All of his final 17 came in the fourth quarter as Oklahoma City pulled away, withstanding several equalizing attempts from the Knicks in the prior period. 

Chet Holmgren rounded things out with 22 points and four blocks as the Thunder (20-9), which has now won five of six and seven of their most recent nine, withstood a failed metropolitan comeback.

Alonzo Adams, USA TODAY SPORTS

Oklahoma City led by as much as 17 in the opening half but the Knicks were able to keep things interesting, to say the least: behind a 50 percent effort from the field (including 14-of-34 from three-point range), the Knicks were able to shoot their way back into the ball game. New York also owned a plus-13 advantage on the offensive glass and visited the foul line 30 times, hitting all but six of their tries. Such statistical gains allowed them to tie the game at several points in the third quarter.

But turnovers wound up eating away at the Knicks' hopes: New York lost the ball 18 times on Wednesday, five alone escaping the grasp of Jalen Brunson, negating a 24-point performance. Combined with the mere four they forced from the Thunder, the Knicks' turnover differential of minus-14 was their worst since a Nov. 6 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. 

With the loss, the Knicks (17-13) failed to build on the momentum generated from Monday's victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The struggles against the NBA's elite continued, as New York is now 1-8 against teams that currently reside in the top three of their respective conferences.

Blunder vs. the Thunder: Knicks' Big Lead Struck Down

A rematch between the Knicks and Thunder is scheduled for Mar. 31 at Madison Square Garden. New York has not swept the Thunder franchise in its current state, last taking both halves of the yearly pair when it was known as the Seattle SuperSonics in 2005-06.

The Knicks' calendar-year closing road trip continues on Friday night when they head south to face the Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET, MSG).