Date: Friday, January 3, 2025
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Broadcast: NBA TV
The New York Knicks (22-10) will travel to the Paycom Center this Friday to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (26-5).
In their most recent outing, the Knicks triumphed over the Wizards with a close score of 136-132. The Knicks recorded 14 personal fouls, while the Wizards accumulated 22. From the three-point line, New York successfully converted 17 out of 38 attempts. Washington’s free throw shooting was impressive at 86.7%, making 13 of 15 attempts. The Wizards managed to grab a total of 44 rebounds (11 offensive and 33 defensive) and had 3 blocks. Their assist total stood at 32 with 7 steals. Defensively, the Knicks allowed opponents to shoot 51.5% from the field, with the Wizards hitting 51 out of 99 attempts. New York assisted on 26 baskets while forcing 17 turnovers alongside 7 steals. On the boards, they secured 43 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds. The Knicks were highly efficient at the charity stripe, hitting 24 of 26 attempts for a rate of 92.3%, and concluded the match with a field goal percentage of 52.6% (51 of 97) along with 10 out of 40 from beyond the arc.
Jalen Brunson stood out as a pivotal player, shooting an impressive 58.1% from the field, contributing 9 assists, and logging 44 minutes on the court while grabbing 3 rebounds. He scored a remarkable 55 points, making 18 of his 31 shot attempts.
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The Knicks come into this clash sporting a solid record of 22-10. They average 117.6 points per game, ranking them 8th in the league, while shooting 49.9% from the field. From three-point distance, they hit a healthy 38.9% (447 out of 1,148), and rank 8th in free throw percentage at 80.5%. As a team, New York averages 42.8 rebounds and has dished out 888 assists, placing them 9th in assist ratio. They commit an average of 13.3 turnovers and 17.3 fouls per game.
On the defensive end, the Knicks force an average of 13.6 turnovers per game and commit 19.0 personal fouls. They rank 17th in the league in assists allowed, surrendering 831 assists this season. Defensively, New York is allowing a field goal percentage of 46.3% (1,298 of 2,804) and an average of 40.7 rebounds per game, while they stand 7th in points allowed per game at 110.0.
In their last game, the Thunder achieved a convincing 130-106 win against the Memphis Grizzlies. Oklahoma City allowed Memphis to gather a total of 51 rebounds (16 offensive). From three-point range, the Thunder shot 27.5%, making 14 of 51 attempts, while finishing 18 of 21 from the free throw line (85.7%). The Grizzlies scored on 37 of their 97 field goal attempts for a shooting percentage of 38.1%. The Thunder achieved a shooting percentage of 50.5%, hitting 52 out of 103 overall, and made 14 out of 44 three-point attempts (31.8%). Notably, the Thunder had a perfect performance at the free-throw line, making all 12 attempts. Oklahoma City recorded 10 turnovers but also managed to steal the ball 10 times during the matchup, grabbing 36 defensive and 9 offensive boards for a total of 45 rebounds.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an outstanding performance for the Thunder, scoring 35 points in just 28 minutes, contributing 7 assists, and achieving a field goal percentage of 73.7% after making 14 of 19 attempts. He also secured 6 rebounds.
Oklahoma City currently holds a record of 26-5 this season. The Thunder’s offensive efficiency is highlighted by a 46.6% shooting percentage from the field, ranking them 15th overall. They have scored a total of 3,578 points, averaging 115.4 points per game while pulling down 44.2 rebounds per contest. They assist 25.8 times per game, placing them 15th in the league, and turn the ball over 11.7 times per game while committing 20.7 fouls and shooting 81.7% at the free throw line.
On the defensive side, the Thunder limit opponents to a 33.0% shooting percentage from three-point range (393 of 1,190) and force them to convert only 74.5% of free throw attempts. They allow 24.0 assists and 47.6 total rebounds per game, ranking 3rd and 29th, respectively. Remarkably, Oklahoma City is the top team in the NBA for points allowed per game, surrendering only 103.3. They force an average of 18.9 turnovers and restrict opponents to a 42.3% shooting percentage from the floor (a league-best).
Free Prediction: Bet on New York (+4.5) & Over (222.0)
