Game Thread: New York Knicks vs Oklahoma City Thunder 7:30pm 1/26/2016

rady

Administrator
Staff member

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(33-13) -- (22-24)

VenueTVTIME
Madison Square Garden New York, NYMSG7:30 PM EST


Possible starters:


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Injury Report

Oklahoma City ThunderNew York Knicks
Steven Adams - Right elbow strain (OUT)Lance Thomas - Sore Left Knee (PROB)
Andre Roberson - Right knee sprain (OUT)Carmelo Anthony - Sore Left Knee (QUEST)
-Cleanthony Early - Injured Right Knee (OUT)


Game Preview

Now that they've settled into a regular routine on their trip to New York, the Oklahoma City Thunder can focus on the business of winning.

After they couldn't help but feel the effects of a massive snowstorm, the Thunder may not get to avoid facing nemesis Carmelo Anthony, either.

Anthony says he plans to play through knee soreness as the Knicks try to avoid their first back-to-back home losses since November on Tuesday night against an Oklahoma City team that hasn't lost two in a row in two months.

The Thunder (33-13) weren't able to practice or hold a shootaround and walkthrough after arriving in the New York metro area around 4 a.m. Saturday - not long after a blizzard began that would dump almost 30 inches on the area.

Kevin Durant was stuck in his hotel for 36 hours before Oklahoma City's season-best win streak ended at seven with Sunday's 116-106 loss in the second of the club's season high-tying four-game road swing.

"They dealt with the same circumstances we had," coach Billy Donovan said after the game, which was pushed back four hours from its original start time. "So both teams dealt with the weather, but to say that that impacted us would be making an excuse."

Durant finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and fellow All-Star starter Russell Westbrook added 27, 11 and seven, but the Thunder never led in just their fifth loss over the last 27 games. The Northwest Division leaders haven't dropped two in a row since Nov. 30 and Dec. 3.

They struggled without center Steven Adams, who is expected to sit out the rest of this trip after an MRI revealed a sprained right elbow. Brook Lopez took advantage by scoring a season-high 31 points for the Nets.

New York's Robin Lopez, Brook's twin brother, certainly doesn't pose as much of a threat, but Anthony has given the Thunder a lot of trouble. He's totaled 56 points to help the Knicks win the last two meetings, and his 27.1 career average is his highest versus any Western Conference opponent.

The All-Star forward, however, has shot 39.4 percent in his last four games after missing two with an ankle injury. He's questionable for this contest after feeling soreness in his knee Saturday when he had a season-low nine points in 29 minutes - none in the fourth quarter - of a 97-84 loss at Charlotte.

The Knicks (22-24), who averaged 112.7 points during a six-game winning streak at Madison Square Garden, have scored 86.0 per game in their last two overall.

New York hasn't lost two in a row at home since Nov. 27-29 and hasn't swept this season series since 2005-06 against the then-Seattle SuperSonics.

"How do you get to a point where you can break (past .500)?" coach Derek Fisher said. "It requires more sacrifice, more discipline, more commitment and more energy. We have to keep plugging until we find a way."

The Knicks held Oklahoma City to 38.0 percent shooting - including 3 for 29 from 3-point range - in a 93-90 road win Nov. 20. Westbrook led the Thunder with 34 points and he's averaged 35.3 over the last three meetings.

Durant's 29.4 career scoring average against New York is his second-highest of any East opponent, though he's missed the past three matchups.

Thunder guard Andre Roberson is expected to miss three weeks with a sprained right knee.
(nba.com)
 

tiger0330

Legend
And KD is playing unlike the last time we beat them. Let's at least see what kind of coach Fish is because there is a clear mismatch at PG. Westbrook is arguably the fastest and strongest PG in the NBA, they're going to need to have someone else guarding him besides JC or build a wall around the rim to keep him from penetrating, maybe play a zone on occasion. They're also a dunk happy team at the rim so minimizing points in the paint will be a must also.

I think its an OKC blowout. OKC by 15 points.
 

Kiyaman

Legend
Great Thread Rady ..... our $124M players will be a No-Show .. Westbrook n Durant has a career of beating Melo
 

tiger0330

Legend
KP with a putback. Used his length from behind his man and jammed it in, not many could do a putback like he just did needing length and elevation to jam it in at that distance.
 

Kiyaman

Legend
D.Will is playing well at his natural position the 3 spot .. 27-27 score .. lets see how long we play well now that Fisher substituted for a small ball lineup vz OKC
 

Kiyaman

Legend
The Brooklyn Nets beat OKC with a smooth 10 man rotation of team-ball

I dont care what anyone say, Grant is our future PG
 

mafra

Legend
No Melo no problems... KP, Thomas, Grant and LG recruiting Durant with their play on the court.
 

tiger0330

Legend
Can't ask for much more for a team playing w/o Melo. Knicks go into the locker room with 63-61 lead. The bench was big with 25 pts.
 

Kiyaman

Legend
Tiger .. KP gave u another put back highlight over Ibaka & Adams
D.Will is playing great in a lineup with Lopez n KP
Lance Thomas putting it on OKC
Grant playing great NBA ball without Melo beggin for the ball
Our Bigmen Lopez/Serafin/Quinn/and KP playing well enough to win this game but Fisher is not gonna win without Melo
 
Exciting first half. We are getting killed on the boards, but since neither team is playing effective defense, anyone can win in a wacky shootout.

At times, Grant has looked terrible this season, but every now and then he has looked amazing like in the first half tonight. Is he our starting point guard of the future? Does he just need to log heavy minutes from here on out? If the answers are yes, what are we waiting for? Let's find out.
 

tiger0330

Legend
Fish has pressed the right buttons all game. Puts Quinn in and he hits a 3, Seraphin blocking shots and using that baby hook shot. You don't need Melo when they play like this.
 
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