Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault’s system proved effective in a 10-point win over the New York Knicks, despite the team facing a significant deficit and feeling overmatched at times. The Thunder stuck to their guns, relying on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Isaiah Hartenstein to make key contributions.
In contrast to Tom Thibodeau’s aggressive approach, Daigneault kept his team’s minutes balanced, playing ten players in total, with none exceeding 38 minutes. This strategy allowed the Thunder to maintain a high level of energy throughout the game.
A turning point came at halftime, when the Knicks were dominating the pace. However, Daigneault made adjustments that led to Oklahoma City making a comeback run. The team capitalized on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s return with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, as he finished off the game with eight points, three assists, and a rebound.
The Thunder’s bench also played a crucial role, with Aaron Wiggins delivering a 15-point performance in the fourth quarter, including four triples. Jalen Williams added six points, a rebound, a block, and an assist, while Isaiah Hartenstein provided 14 rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block.
The Thunder’s win marks their seventh on the second night of a back-to-back schedule. The team will face the Boston Celtics on Sunday in an NBATV contest.
Source: https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/news/stiles-points-mark-daigneault-stayed-true-to-his-system-it-paid-off-ded-4