Oklahoma City Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke open a low-scoring affair with the New York Knicks in the third quarter, scoring 12 points and assisting another basket to account for 14 total points. The Knicks scored just 21 in the quarter.
By the end of the frame, the Thunder had taken a 69-63 lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander did not hit a field goal over the first 20 minutes of the game. He had just two points until he hit a pair of 3s as the first half was winding to a close.
He kept that momentum going into the second half.
The Thunder have relied on solo runs in the third quarter over the past week. Against the Miami eat on Monday, Darius Bazley scored eight points in a row. In the next game, Bazley scored the first 11 points of the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans.
On Friday, it was Gilgeous-Alexander who stole the show.
He went 6-for-7 from the field in the third quarter, all of which were taken inside the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander changed his tone a bit from the first half; during the first 24 minutes, he drove to the rim but preferred to kick the ball out to shooters. In this quarter, he drove and took the shot himself.
What a drive by Shai! He’s been awesome to start out this half. #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/CqiKsvWgId
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) January 9, 2021
This is ridiculous. he is SO crafty. SGA 6/7 with 12 points in the 3rd quarter! #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/i9lVGt9ddC
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) January 9, 2021
He can finish. He has shown that enough. And in the third quarter, he used that ability to take a lead at the break.
