(Field Level Media) Taking the lead once again with Russell Westbrook injured, Oklahoma City’s Paul George scored 35 points as the Thunder cruised past the New York Knicks 128-103 on Wednesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Oklahoma City won for the ninth time in 10 games.
The Thunder never trailed, leading by 15 after one quarter and never letting the Knicks get closer than 10 the rest of the way.
George scored 17 of his points in the third quarter, when Oklahoma City scored 35 points.
Knicks coach David Fizdale made changes to his starting lineup for the first time since the sixth game of the season, inserting Kevin Knox and Emmanuel Mudiay as starters for the first time this season in place of Frank Ntilikina and Damyean Dotson.
The changes didn’t give Fizdale’s team much of a boost, though, as Knox was just 5-of-16 from the field including 2-of-7 from behind the 3-point line.
It was the Knicks’ fifth loss in six games and the third consecutive.
Oklahoma City entered the game as the worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA but hit a season-high 16 long-distance shots against the Knicks, shooting 48.5 percent from behind the arc. It was the Thunder’s second-best percentage from behind the line this year.
George was 13-of-22 from the field and 5-of-11 from behind the 3-point line.
Steven Adams added 19 points while Dennis Schroder added 15 points and a season-high 12 assists.
Oklahoma City shot 53.2 percent from the floor and had 32 assists.
Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Knicks with 20 points while Enes Kanter scored 19 off the bench. The Knicks were just 7-of-26 from behind the arc.
The Knicks did take advantage of Oklahoma City’s 16 turnovers, converting them into 36 points.
Westbrook missed his fifth consecutive game with a sprained left ankle. He’s expected to return on the Thunder’s upcoming three-game road trip.
