March 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) scores against New York Knicks guard Michal Bridges (25) in the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Chet Holmgren poured in 28 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 26 as the Oklahoma City Thunder held off a late charge to beat the New York Knicks 103-100 on the road Wednesday night.
The Thunder had a seven-point lead with just over a minute remaining, but the Knicks had a chance to send the game to overtime in the dying seconds. However, OG Anunoby’s 3-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the rim, giving Oklahoma City the win.
Gilgeous-Alexander reached 20 points early in the fourth quarter to get within two of Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record streak of 20 points in 126 consecutive games.
The Thunder have won four straight and nine of their last 11 games.
The Knicks, who had not beaten Oklahoma City in New York since December 2017, had their three-game winning streak snapped.
New York trailed by 10 points at halftime and scored 40 points before the game ended.
However, the Knicks doubled their point total and took the lead for the third time.
With the Thunder up 6 and about 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander headed to the bench.
The Knicks tied the score at 11-5 on a Jalen Brunson 3-pointer more than two minutes after Gilgeous-Alexander left the game at 72 points.
Moments later Gilgeous-Alexander came back into the game, but couldn’t do much to stem the tide due to turnovers on successive possessions. Mikal Bridges drained a 3 in the bottom of the third to give New York an 80-77 lead.
Oklahoma City’s Holmgren, who dropped 8 of 11 hits in the first half, attempted one shot in the third but failed.
Gilgeous-Alexander headed to the bench again to start the fourth inning.
This time, the Thunder thrived with the current Most Valuable Player by their side, opening the quarter on a 9-3 run to regain the lead.
Holmgren had two baskets and an assist during that span.
Oklahoma City had a pair of challenges of late.
Midway through the quarter, Anunoby drove for a layup that cut the Thunder’s lead short to three.
But Thunder coach Mark Daigneault challenged the play, Anunoby took charge and the score was taken off the board.
Two minutes later, after a scramble, the officials gave the ball to the Knicks.
Daigneault called for another reconsideration, and New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns was called for a loose-ball foul, his fifth of the game.
A minute later, Towns fouled out and ended the game with 17 points and 17 rebounds.
Anunoby added 16 points and Brunson had 16 points and a season-high 15 assists.
–Field level media
