NBA-best Thunder score statement win over Knicks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 30 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and Oklahoma City defeated New York 111-100 in a battle between two championship hopefuls.

Gilgeous-Alexander was five of 15 from the floor in the first three quarters on Sunday (Monday AEDT), but drained all three of his shots in the fourth. He made 13 of 16 free throws overall to help extend his NBA record for consecutive games with at least 20 points to 135.

Jalen Williams scored 22 points and Chet Holmgren added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Western Conference-leading Thunder (59-16), who won for the 14th time in 15 games. OKC lead San Antonio (56-18) by two-and-a-half games in the race for the league’s best record with eight remaining.

Jalen Brunson scored 32 points for the visitors on 13-for-22 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns added 15 points and 18 rebounds for the Knicks (48-27), who lost their second straight after a seven-game winning streak.

New York are third in the Eastern Conference standings, two-and-a-half games behind Boston after the Celtics (50-24) extended their advantage over the Knicks with a 114-99 win at Charlotte and clinched their playoffs spot.

Jayson Tatum finished with a season-high 32 points on 12-of-23 shooting — including five of 10 from beyond the arc — to go along with eight assists, five rebounds and a block in 31 minutes of action.

It was the type of play Boston fans have been waiting for since the six-time NBA All-Star returned to action following a torn Achilles last May.

“I was still was kind of tired, so that’s something I’m still working through,” Tatum, who became the youngest player in Celtics history to reach 14,000 points, said.

“But I feel better than I did last game. Hopefully I feel better in the next game than I did today.”

Boston are 9-2 since Tatum’s return.