Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a clutch three-pointer late in the game to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a hard-fought 103–100 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

The win improved the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Award winner’s perfect record against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden to 7–0. It also marked Oklahoma City’s fourth straight victory, helping them extend their lead at the top of the Western Conference.

“We got the car back on the road in the fourth quarter, we were able to give ourselves a chance,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after finishing with 26 points and eight assists.

“Late game, you’ve just got to figure it out. I made plays. Guys made plays. We still got here with a W.”

Oklahoma City led for much of the contest, with Chet Holmgren producing a standout performance. The big man led all scorers with 28 points, including an impressive 22 in a dominant first half display.

The Thunder defense proved equally influential early on, limiting New York to just 40 points before the break. Knicks star Jalen Brunson was heavily contained during that stretch, managing just two points under intense pressure.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically after halftime. New York erupted for 40 points in the third quarter alone, with Brunson’s three-pointer tying the game and igniting the home crowd.

The Knicks briefly carried a slim advantage into the closing stages, but the Thunder responded through Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren. With under a minute remaining, Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down a step-back jumper to open up a seven-point cushion.

Brunson cut the deficit to three, and with just six seconds left he launched a potential game-tying three — but the shot narrowly missed.

“It’s always great to come away with a win. No better place to do it than the Mecca,” Holmgren said, referring to Madison Square Garden.

The victory lifts the defending champions to an NBA-best 49–15 record, putting them three-and-a-half games clear of the San Antonio Spurs as they continue their push toward the playoffs.

“You got to get healthy, because we’re going to need everyone for this playoff run,” Gilgeous-Alexander added. “And then we just got to keep doing what we’re doing. We’ve got to stay together and be the team we’ve been the last year and a half.”

Despite the defeat, the Knicks remain third in the Eastern Conference and did not lose ground on the second-placed Boston Celtics, who suffered a heavy 118–89 loss to the surging Charlotte Hornets.

Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel scored 20 points in another strong outing, while Derrick White led Boston with 29 points in defeat. Charlotte’s victory marked their sixth consecutive win by 15 or more points — the joint second-longest streak of its kind in National Basketball Association history