NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder make late run, hold off Knicks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 111-100 home victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday night.

The Thunder (59-16) have won 14 of their last 15 games and moved 2 1/2 games ahead of San Antonio for the top spot in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City led by 11 early in the fourth quarter following a 10-3 run, but the Knicks cut the deficit to 92-91 with a 13-3 run of their own.

After Alex Caruso's 3-pointer for Oklahoma City with 6:20 remaining, Gilgeous-Alexander scored the Thunder's next nine points to help them stretch the lead. Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored 20 or more points in 135 consecutive games, extending his NBA record.

Oklahoma City guard Jalen Williams added 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting in more than 28 minutes, marking his most minutes since Jan. 15 and his highest point total in the four games since returning from a hamstring injury.

Jalen Brunson led New York (48-27) with 32 points. The Knicks trailed for almost the entire first half and were tied three times before taking their only lead in the third quarter. New York relied on their 3-point shooting, making 11 of 24 shots beyond the arc in the first half, while Oklahoma City was just 3 of 12.

Late in the third quarter, Knicks coach Mike Brown received a technical foul for arguing that the Thunder's Cason Wallace should have been called for a foul after defending Brunson's shot. Wallace was fouled on the other end by Josh Hart. It was the second technical foul of the season on Brown; the first came March 4 in New York's 103-100 home loss to the Thunder.

Gilgeous-Alexander went 13 of 16 from the free-throw line, as Oklahoma City attempted 38 free throws compared with New York's 17. Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges each scored 15 points for the Knicks, with Towns also grabbing 18 rebounds. Early in the second half, Towns’ elbow caught Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren, resulting in a flagrant foul call.

The Knicks have dropped back-to-back games after winning seven consecutive.

–Field Level Media/Reuters