Shai Gilgeous Alexander Solidifies MVP Case, Thunder Beat Knicks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and handed out eight assists while Chet Holmgren added a game-high 28 as the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Knicks 103-100 at Madison Square Garden. SGA hit a late "huge three-pointer" to put the game away, lifting OKC to an NBA-best 49-15 and reinforcing his case as the front-runner with season averages of 31.8 points, 6.4 assists and 1.4 steals. Merlin sees a star steering a ship. The numbers are "MVP numbers" and leading the league’s top team gives weight to the claim, even as critics grumble about preferential whistles. How Shai handles Saturday’s home date with Golden State for win No. 50 will sharpen the picture of just how unstoppable he has become.