Rolling Thunder was not just a legendary Six Flags roller coaster in New Jersey, but an apt descriptor for the surging Knicks’ next opponent.
Tom Thibodeau’s team will step up in weight class — and put its nine-game winning streak on the line — Friday night in Oklahoma City against the top team in the Western Conference.
NBA scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder had won 12 consecutive games ahead of their home game Thursday night against the Clippers.
Friday’s contest will feature the Thunder’s league-best defense (102.9 points allowed per 100 possessions) versus the Knicks’ No. 2-ranked offense (120.1 points scored per 100).
“They’re really good, and they’re better than they’ve ever been,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after posting 31 points and 21 rebounds in Wednesday’s home win over the Jazz. “So we gotta be at our best to go out there and compete at a high level.
“We’ve been fortunate to find ourselves winning in the games where we learned a lot about ourselves, and have to take those teachings and those experiences with us to OKC and utilize them to come out with a win.”
Towns, who ranks second in the NBA behind Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis with 13.7 rebounds per game, will go head-to-head with the departed 7-footer he replaced at center this season on the Knicks.
Isaiah Hartenstein is averaging a career-best 12.4 boards in 17 games since returning from a preseason hand injury after inking a three-year deal worth $87 million with the Thunder in free agency.
“The big man got paid this summer so he should be a little slow on his feet, slow trying to protect the rim, so we should be able to go at him,” joked Josh Hart, who has recorded back-to-back triple-doubles against the Wizards and the Jazz. “This will be a good test, we got them and a tough back-to-back with Chicago [on Saturday]. Got to go out there, play our game and be aggressive.”
The Knicks (24-10) extended their winning streak Wednesday night against the skidding Jazz despite the absence of All-Star Jalen Brunson (calf) and sixth man Miles McBride (hamstring).
Tom Thibodeau said both point guards would be evaluated Thursday before a determination is made about the game in Oklahoma City.
Led by the dynamic Gilgeous-Alexander’s league-best 31.3 points per game, the Thunder represent a far tougher matchup for backups Cam Payne and rookie Tyler Kolek.
“I think JB, ’Kal, myself, we’re just cut a little bit differently. If we’re able to walk, we’re gonna play. Apparently JB was able to walk today so he should have played,” Hart joked, referring to Brunson and Mikal Bridges, his former Villanova teammates. “I know [Brunson] wants to be out there. I don’t think that takes into [account] for him, but for us, we know we got someone who could step up and play big minutes.”
The Knicks have played the easiest schedule in the league so far, with an opponents’ winning percentage of .461 through Wednesday’s action.
Five of the wins in their nine-game streak have come against teams with a combined record of 26-105 (.198): the Pelicans, Raptors, Wizards (twice) and Jazz.
After posting a 12-2 mark in December, the Knicks will face the Thunder twice in eight days, with additional January games against the Magic, Bucks, Hawks, 76ers, Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Nuggets.
“Right now, our record says where we are. But we also understand that there’s a lot of areas where we have to get better. So don’t get lost in that,” Thibodeau said Wednesday. “The most important thing is finding different ways to win.
“I know you guys think it’s cliche, but I think in this league, when you start looking ahead of you, look behind, you get lost as to where you are. It’s easy to get sidetracked like that. That’s why we go into the year with the thought in mind about daily improvement and never get away from it. We hammer that every day. Each game is different, each day is different. So stay focused and understand what goes into winning.”
