Electric Garden can't save New York Knicks against Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Highlights)
Nov 28, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket past New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Not even an electric Madison Square Garden could save the New York Knicks from Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

  • New York Knicks 103 (8-9)
  • Oklahoma City Thunder 112 (11-8)
  • NBA, Final, Box Score
  • Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
This was a game the revamped, new-look New York Knicks were supposed to win. Squaring off against a Kevin Durant-less Oklahoma City Thunder team at Madison Square Garden should have been a layup.

It wasn’t. Oklahoma City out-muscled and toughed its way to the 112-103 victory. They did so despite the Garden’s electricity flowing with the Knicks making plays while holding comfortable leads.

Russell Westbrook — us he usually is — was dynamite. He recorded 27 points, 14 assists, and an incredible 18 rebounds from the point guard position. The triple-double machine did it again, this time at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

Enes Kanter enjoyed his best game of the season. In addition to a season-high 27 points, he pulled down 10 rebounds. In fact, he was one of three Thunder players to rip down 10 or more rebounds on the night (Steven Adams, 10). OKC destroyed New York on the backboard all night and the 36-28 rebound advantage only tells half the story. 

The other half was told by watching Joakim Noah and Kristaps Porzingis continually get bullied down low. The Thunder collected 17 total offensive rebounds, allowing the squad to grab more possessions in the all-important fourth quarter.

For the Knicks, the man of the night was Derrick Rose who rose to the challenge of squaring off with one of the top point guards in the league — a guy he routinely trains with during the offseason. D-Rose 30 points on 10-of-20 from the floor. He also picked up seven rebounds and added four dimes.

Carmelo Anthony was dreadful. His 4-for-19 from the floor could only yield him 18 points. Porzingis finished second on the team with 21.

After slipping one game over .500 last week, New York has quickly lost two straight to fall back under the “average” mark. Next up will be the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night on the road.

 NEXT: The frustrating start to Joakim Noah's Knicks tenure 

 

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Robby Sabo
https://jetsxfactor.com
Robby Sabo is a co-founder, CEO and credentialed New York Jets content creator for Jets X-Factor - Jet X, which includes Sabo's Sessions (in-depth film breakdowns) and Sabo with the Jets. Host: Underdog Jets Podcast with Wayne Chrebet and Sabo Radio. Member: Pro Football Writers of America. Coach: Port Jervis (NY) High School. Washed up strong safety and 400M runner. SEO: XL Media. Founder: Elite Sports NY - ESNY (Sold in 2020). SEO: XL Media. Email: robby.sabo[at]jetsxfactor.com

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