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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 26, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. A.J. Mast, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 26: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 26, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE   A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by A.J. Mast / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

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Oklahoma City Thunder v Indiana Pacers

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736570476705AFP__20241227__2190871292__v1__Preview__OklahomaCityThunderVIndianaPacers.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 26, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. A.J. Mast, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on December 26, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. <em>A.J. Mast, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP </em></span></span></span></div><p>NEW YORK (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe combined for 70 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back to winning ways with a 126-101 drubbing of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday.</p><p>Oklahoma City were left licking their wounds after their much-anticipated tussle against the No.1 ranked Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday ended in a chastening defeat.</p><p>But the Western Conference leaders showed no signs of a hangover with a blowout victory over the Knicks, in what had been billed as a potential NBA Finals preview.</p><p>The Knicks were effectively forced into damage limitation mode after a blistering start from Oklahoma City saw the visitors surge into a 31-17 lead after the first quarter.</p><p>The Thunder kept their foot on the pedal in the second, pouring in 39 points to take a mammoth 70-43 halftime lead that the Knicks never looked like catching.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oa8CICrOJ3M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded another dazzling offensive performance from the Thunder, finishing with 39 points from 15-of-21 shooting while Joe caught fire with eight three-pointers off the bench to deliver a 31-point display.</p><p>Oklahoma City&#x27;s win saw them stretch their lead to 31-6 at the top of the Western Conference standings, six games ahead of the second-placed Houston Rockets.</p><div><strong>- Celtics jolted -</strong></div><p>In other games Friday, there was an upset in Boston as the reigning champion Celtics stumbled to a 114-97 loss to the Sacramento Kings.</p><p>DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points to lead the scoring but the plaudits went to center Domantas Sabonis, who finished with 23 points and a whopping 28 rebounds.</p><p>Malik Monk added 22 points with Keegan Murray adding 19.</p><p>Boston&#x27;s problems stemmed from a below-par offensive performance which saw them shoot at 40.5%, making only 11 of 41 three-point attempts.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-lMEpAn3jzs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>&quot;When you&#x27;re having an inefficient offense, it puts pressure on your defense,&quot; Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. &quot;And if you&#x27;re only going to shoot 28% from three, it means you&#x27;re going to have to do a lot of other things really, really, really well. We&#x27;ve got to do better.&quot;</p><p>In Orlando, Giannis Antetokounmpo spoiled Paolo Banchero&#x27;s return from injury after a 34-game absence with a 41-point masterpiece to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 109-106 win over the Magic.</p><p>Greek star Antetokounmpo also weighed in with 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks while Damian Lillard provided offensive support with 29 points.</p><p>Magic star Banchero -- who has missed the last 34 games due to a torn oblique muscle -- finished with 34 points but it was not enough to deny the Bucks victory.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eyid997ewno?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In Philadelphia, the New Orleans Pelicans shrugged off the absence through suspension of Zion Williamson to defeat the 76ers 123-115.</p><p>Pelicans star Williamson was reportedly handed a one-game suspension for the game after arriving late for the team&#x27;s flight to Philadelphia on Thursday.</p><p>Yet the Pelicans were still too powerful for a Sixers line-up missing star Joel Embiid, with C.J. McCollum leading the scoring with a game-high 38 points.</p><p>Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers scoring with 30 points while Paul George finished on 25 points with 11 rebounds.</p><p>In Indianapolis, the Indiana Pacers added to the Golden State Warriors&#x27; problems with a 108-96 victory.</p><p>In Denver, Nikola Jokic returned for the Nuggets after a two-game absence due to illness and bagged a triple-double in a 124-105 defeat of the Brooklyn Nets.</p><p>Jokic finished with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 15 assists, while team-mate Russell Westbrook also grabbed a triple with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.</p><p>Denver improved to 22-15 with the win to move into fourth place in the Western Conference, nine games back from leaders Oklahoma.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe combined for 70 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back to winning ways with a 126-101 drubbing of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday.</p>

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe combined for 70 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back to winning ways with a 126-101 drubbing of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

NBA: Shai sparks Thunder in Knicks rout, Kings stun Celtics

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NBA: Shai sparks Thunder in Knicks rout, Kings stun Celtics

Agence France-Presse

Published January 11, 2025 12:42 PM PHT

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Updated January 11, 2025 01:45 PM PHT

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