The Knicks feel pretty good about their chances of reaching the NBA Finals, marking the first time in 27 years.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City is just one win away from facing the Knicks.
The first game won’t take place until June 3, allowing the Knicks an eight-day break to recuperate. During that time, they’ll be closely watching the thrilling Western Conference finals unfold across the country.
In Game 5, Oklahoma City, the top seed, took down the second-seeded Spurs with a score of 127-114 at home, leading the series 3-2 and inching closer to a showdown with the Knicks.
However, securing a win in Game 6 won’t be straightforward for them, as they head to San Antonio for a tough matchup on Thursday night (8:36 p.m., NBC).
The anticipated clash between the Knicks and the Thunder—who are not only the reigning champions but also the best team in the league’s biggest market—promises to be exciting.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shined in the game against the Spurs, racking up 32 points and nine assists, solidifying his status as a potential MVP.
Of course, he did have some struggles, including six turnovers, and his shooting wasn’t ideal at 7-for-19 against a robust Spurs defense. Still, he excelled at getting to the free-throw line, making 16 of 17 attempts.
Despite being without All-Stars Jaylen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, the Thunder effectively limited San Antonio to 40.2 percent shooting, including just 12 of 41 from three-point range.
Alex Caruso scored 22 points, while Jared McCain, a first-round draft pick recently obtained from Philadelphia, contributed 20 points, with 18 coming after halftime.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander commented, “I just played who I am tonight. We probably had the worst start of our career in a basketball game, but our group held us back, and we managed to stay in the game. We still won in the first quarter. But it’s a testament to the guys in the locker room. We’ve said it all year 1-15. We wouldn’t have made it this far without the whole team’s effort, and it showed again.”
The Thunder created a solid defense to contain Victor Wembaneyama. The Spurs’ star had been averaging 30.3 points and 13.3 rebounds in the series but was limited to just 20 points and six rebounds, marking his second consecutive game with lower underwhelming stats.
Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren played a key role, restricting him to 4-of-15 shooting. They will pose a significant challenge for Karl-Anthony Towns moving forward.
No matter who the Knicks face, they’ll certainly be up against a much tougher opponent compared to what they encountered in the Eastern Conference. The Thunder and Spurs have stepped up their game, currently riding an impressive streak of 11 consecutive wins, including sweeps against the 76ers and Cavaliers.
