After falling in game one of this two-game regular season series, the Knicks were looking to get revenge on their home court against the Thunder. Unfortunately, their efforts were once again squandered, as Oklahoma City would not let the bright lights of New York City blind them, dismantling this title-contending squad by a final score of 126-101.
This was also a game Isaiah Hartenstein undoubtedly had circled on his calendar, as it was the first time he went back to the arena he called home for two years. He would deliver in this game, along with many other of the Thunder's players. There was also one surprise performance by a struggling role player and another poor shooting night for another.
With this in mind, here are the three studs and one dud from OKC's blowout victory over New York.
Studs and duds from Thunder's blowout win over Knicks
Stud: Isaiah Joe
After struggling all season and being floated around in trade rumors, Isaiah Joe responded to all the haters in what could be considered the best performance of his career.
The wing would go in and look like a top 10 player in the league, dropping a season-high 31 points while cashing home on a career-high eight three-pointers.
He simply couldn't miss the entire game and was the reason OKC just walked away with the win. After a struggling first quarter of action, during which the Thunder could barely score, Joe came in with a spark.
The only question now with the 25-year-old is whether this performance is enough to squash any trade rumors or if it increases his stock to land Cameron Johnson.
Stud: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
After making his first appearance as a dud last week, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander responded with another top-tier performance. This also came off of him being ranked number one on the MVP ladder.
The superstar was on pace for a career-high 50 points on the night but was pulled after the third quarter. Still, he would finish with an impressive 39 points on 15-21 shooting, a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe, and got it done on the other end with 2 steals.
However, the most impressive stat from the MVP frontrunner was that he only took one triple the entire contest. This proves that he can put on this kind of scoring display by attacking the mid-range and defense on drives.
With more scoring displays like this one, and wins against top-tier teams in the league, SGA can wrap up the MVP race and win the first of many in his career.
Dud: Kenrich Williams
This was hard, but at the end of the night, Kenrich Williams did not show up on the offensive end. That has been his biggest struggle all season, along with competing against big men.
Kenrich would finish his night with 5 points while going an unimpressive 2-for-8 from the field, not hitting any of his two long-range shots, but he did grab 7 boards.
He is doing what he was brought to do during the rebuild, as he's instilling a culture of hustle and having a no-quit mentality. The team is now a contender and trying to compete, which leads to a confusing spot for Williams.
The team needs more creators and shot-makers, and Kenrich Williams is not that nor will he ever be. That is perfectly fine, he is a veteran that can be useful for the start of a rebuild to build culture.
Thunder fans might want to start saying their goodbyes to Kenny Hustle, as his day in the Sooner State could be coming to an end.
Stud: Aaron Wiggins
Why the Thunder have the Knicks' number this year is because of their bench unit, and Aaron Wiggins has turned himself into the leader of this second squad.
He took a backseat role in this game since Isaiah Joe had a career-best game, but he still got his work in with 8 points on a perfect shooting performance (4-for-4) to go along with 5 rebounds and a steal on the defensive end.
He is turning into a do-it-all type of player, and the past few weeks have seen Wiggins look as if he can do anything on the court. He has rebounded well in games, shot the three-ball well, and passed it around to open teammates.
His future looks secure in Oklahoma City, and with the heartbreaking news regarding the injury of Ajay Mitchell, Wiggins will need to continue to step up with Isaiah Joe.