An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball against Miles McBride on March 29, 2026, Image 2 shows New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) shoots a three-point basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) defends, Image 3 shows Knicks guard Jalen Brunson gestures after making a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Knicks lost their cool, lost the game and coach Mike Brown again implied the reigning MVP is manipulating his way to the free throw line.
“The [Thunder] does a fantastic job, starting with [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander], in getting [referees] to think a foul has occurred. Their gamesmanship is off the charts — off the charts,” Brown said after the Knicks lost 111-100 on Sunday. “From top to bottom. And Shai is the best at it in the league. And you give their whole team credit, starting with Mark [Daigneault, the head coach,] on down because they have a system, and they do a great job exploiting it in their way.”
Officiating became the big talking point after the Thunder doubled-up the Knicks’ free throw attempts, 38-17.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who has built a reputation as a foul baiter, took 16 of those foul shots — connecting on 13 — and Brown bemoaned his players for arguing too much with the officials.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball against Miles McBride on March 29, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“I told the team we spent so much worrying about the officials that we had more turnovers than them. They had more points off turnovers. They had more fast-break points. And they had more second-chance points. So the officials had nothing to do with that,” Brown said. “That’s us boxing out; that’s us getting back in transition; that’s us taking care of the basketball. You can’t waste your energy on the officials, and I thought we did that too much tonight.”
Still, Brown also got nasty with the officials and picked up a technical foul in the third quarter. It was close to an ejection because Brown almost touched the referee. He said it was a show of solidarity and noted that he only has two techs all season. Both techs occurred, not coincidentally, in games against the Thunder.
“I mainly picked up the tech to show my guys, ‘This what you want; I’ll try to protect you guys.’ But that’s not where the game is won or lost,” Brown said. “I’m gonna ride with you, and I’m going to try to get in the mix a little bit.
“But I don’t think I’ve gone through a season with this few amount of techs. But our group, and it was evident tonight, complains too much to the referees. So I’m trying to show restraint and hoping it’s going to rub off. At the end of the day, if we think we’re going to change the officials’ mind by yelling at the official or wasting energy and time yelling at the official, it’s not going to work. So we have to be better in that area.”
Jalen Brunson gestures after making a basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Oklahoma City. AP
The foul-baiting and complaining aside, Sunday night developed into another reminder why there was only one MVP on the floor.
And it wasn’t Jalen Brunson.
Gilgeous-Alexander took over down the stretch — both from the field and at the charity stripe — outplaying Brunson as Oklahoma City bulldozed through the final six minutes.
The Knicks, losers of six straight to the Thunder, did what inferior teams tend to do: They hung around with the defending champs until crunch time, when OKC flexed its pedigree and closed on a 19-9 run.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 10 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. Brunson had 32 points, but the Knicks were outscored by 10 points in his six minutes of that final period.
“I think we have to do a better job of having short-term memory and moving on,” Brunson said of the officiating. “Focusing on what’s really important. Obviously, some things we can’t change — that’s calls being made. So we have to move on.”
Josh Hart (3) shoots a 3-point basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) defends during the first half at Paycom Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Knicks (48-27), losers of two straight, fell three games behind the Celtics for No. 2 in the East and just one game in the loss column ahead of the No. 4 Cavaliers. They haven’t won in Oklahoma City since 2017.
Sunday’s game was a potential NBA Finals preview. However, as Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein said before tipoff, it’s premature to look that far ahead.
After all, the Knicks still have to advance to their first Finals since 1999, and Thunder have to navigate a dangerous and top-heavy Western Conference, most notably including the San Antonio Spurs.
Still, Sunday was a good barometer for both teams. They were essentially 100 percent healthy and available, with Miles McBride returning from a 28-game absence — although he was reinjured in the second half — and the Thunder boasting a clean injury report. Only Landry Shamet, who missed his fourth straight game with a knee bruise, wasn’t there for the Knicks.
And in the end, they couldn’t stop fouling a player — and team — that was looking to get to the line.
“He’s crafty; he’s tough; he’s a tough cover,” Josh Hart said of Gilgeous-Alexander. “He knows how to get to his spots and manipulate a defender into what he wants. Extremely skillful, so it’s tough.”