NBA: The Curse Continues for the Knicks Against the Thunder as Josh Hart Gets Injured at the Worst Possible Time

There are nights when everything goes your way, and others when basketball reminds you of the harsh reality. Last night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks learned that lesson the hard way against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This top-of-the-table clash between two of the season's best teams, so highly anticipated by New York fans, turned into a nightmare in one innocuous-looking moment.

MSG on Fire... Until the Incident

The atmosphere was electric. Both teams were on three-game winning streaks. New York, powered by a red-hot Jalen Brunson, were looking to topple the Western Conference leaders. Over on the other side, the Thunder, even without their MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (a late call, managing an abdominal issue) and Jalen Williams, are still a well-oiled machine capable of grinding anyone down. It was the perfect game, the kind of night you wait for all season.

That was until Tom Thibodeau saw his game plan crumble midway through the second quarter.

The Knicks' Back is Broken: Josh Hart Exits

Play is underway, the ball's moving, and Josh Hart finds himself alone in the corner. He takes his shot, an open look he usually knocks down with his eyes closed. But this time, nothing but air. An airball. Immediately, the former Blazer grabs his back and signals to the coach: he has to come out. Accompanied by a trainer, he headed to the locker room under the worried gaze of the entire Garden. Before leaving his teammates, Hart's stat line was a poor one: just 4 points on 2/9 shooting, including 0/3 from three-point range. His biggest problem was that his +/- of -9 alone summed up the Knicks' struggles when he's not there to plug the gaps. For a New York team already without Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride, losing their "glue guy", the player who does all the dirty work, is a hammer blow.

The Thunder, Even in Second Gear, is Still a Juggernaut

And what about this OKC side? They roll into New York with a lengthy injury list: Nikola Topic (assigned to the G-League), Ajay Mitchell, Branden Carlson... But they don't seem to care. Against the Knicks, even decimated, they applied the same recipe that is their strength: stifling defence and unselfish attack. Taking advantage of Hart's absence, the Thunder's young guns, having lost New York's primary perimeter defender, accelerated the game in transition.

It has to be said: the Thunder have swept the Knicks in their recent meetings, and they clearly intend to continue this run of dominance. Here's why they're so tough to play, even without their stars:

• An outrageous bench depth: Guys like Isaiah Joe come from nowhere and light you up from distance.
• Team defence: They're averaging nearly 10 steals per game. If you turn the ball over, it's an instant basket at the other end.
• The Chet Holmgren revelation: Even struggling against the power of Karl-Anthony Towns, he disrupts everything. His stats are hovering around 17 points and 9 rebounds on average, which is just monstrous for a second-year player.

A Taste of Revenge in a Month?

Sure, purists will say this Knicks – Thunder review isn't complete without mentioning that New York hung in there until the end. Brunson tried to spark a revolt, KAT finished with a double-double, but without Josh Hart to lock down the backcourt and bring that incredible energy, the equation was just too difficult.

This game on March 4th leaves an unfinished feeling for Knicks fans. We wanted a clash of the titans; we got a street fight won by the more streetwise side. Luckily, the season doesn't end here. These two teams will meet again in less than a month, on March 30th, this time in Oklahoma City. By then, the injured players might be back. And the Knicks, fuelled by a passionate crowd, will be hoping to get their revenge. In the meantime, if you want to know how to use Knicks – Thunder to sound clever at a dinner party, just say: "Remember that night when Josh Hart did his back shooting an airball? That's when the whole game turned on its head."