In a heart-pounding showdown at Madison Square Garden 🏀, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured their playoff spot with a thrilling 113-112 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday. With this win, the Thunder boast an impressive 52-22 record, punching their ticket to the postseason dance. 💃
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions 🎢, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the very last second. Trailing by just one point (112-111) with a mere 4.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Thunder needed a hero. Head Coach Mark Daigneault called a timeout to draw up a clutch play for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), who had been struggling from the field, missing nine of his 16 shots. 😬
SGA faced off against the tenacious Miles McBride, known for locking down the league's top perimeter players 🔒. Rookie sensation Jalen Williams, who was on fire with a game-high 33 points on 14-for-18 shooting, set a screen to free up SGA. But McBride wasn't having it, sticking to SGA like glue as they moved to the left baseline.
With time ticking away ⏰, SGA pulled up for a daring mid-range jumper. Swish! Nothing but net. The crowd went wild as the Thunder took the lead with just tenths of a second remaining. The Knicks' desperation heave fell short, sealing the dramatic victory for Oklahoma City.
\"It was a tough night for me, but my teammates kept believing,\" SGA said after the game. \"We stayed resilient and got the W. On to the playoffs!\" 💪
This win not only showcases the Thunder's grit but also sets the stage for an electrifying postseason. Keep your eyes peeled 👀, because if this game was any indication, the Thunder are bringing the thunder! ⚡️
Reference(s):
NBA highlights on March 31: Thunder, Nuggets book playoff spots
cgtn.com
