Knicks show their defense has improved despite loss to Thunder

The New York Knicks fell short in the final seconds against the Oklahoma City Thunder. But by holding the Thunder 16 points below their season average, the Knicks showed they've got a playoff-ready defense.

OG Anunoby's game-tying three-pointer missed at the buzzer as the Thunder took home a 103-100 win. Still, forcing 15 Thunder turnovers and owning the defensive glass gave the Knicks a real chance at the upset win on a night where they shot 29 percent on three-pointers.

New York Knicks made a shocking improvement after an embarrassing loss

The low point of the Knicks' 2025-26 season may have come on Jan. 19, when the team got blown out at home on national television by the Dallas Mavericks, 114-97. In that game, the Knicks allowed a 44-point second quarter to a shorthanded Mavericks team.

Since then, the team has buckled down. They have the NBA's best defensive rating since that humiliating defeat and have won 15 of 20 games. In that stretch, they held their opponents under 100 points a whopping nine times. The key factor may have been Josh Hart's return from injury, and his departure with a back injury during the third quarter hurt the Knicks down the stretch.

How did they slow down the Thunder? Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns kept the Thunder off the offensive glass, grabbing 12 and 17 rebounds, respectively, and holding the Thunder to three offensive rebounds. Jalen Brunson drew multiple charging fouls to get big turnovers for the Knicks.

Three-pointers and fouls doomed the Knicks

While the Knicks showed off a stout defense, the Thunder showed the adaptability to win in several ways. With the Thunder struggling inside, Chet Holmgren delivered a career-high six three-pointers on his way to 28 points.