NBA Matchups: March 4

OKC @ NYK | CHA @ BOS | UTA @ PHI | POR @ MEM | ATL @ MIL | IND @ LAC

Oklahoma City Thunder (back end) at New York Knicks (back end)

Team Totals: Thunder 113.3, Knicks 108.3

Injury Report: Both teams on a B2B

Thunder projected starters: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein (Note: There’s a chance Chet Holmgren misses)

Knicks projected starters: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony  Towns (Note: Mitchell Robinson likely out)

Daigneault quotes: Said they controlled the game against the Mavs, said they responded well from the big game against the Nuggets, said they have a lot of high-floor players, said some of their guys will lose minutes as they get more players back, said Joe and McCain can be facilitators for them, said they had “general fatigue” against the Mavs on Sunday.

Brown quotes: Said their weak-side defense was really good against the Spurs, said they were taking the right shots against the Spurs, said he has a comfort level to play some guys right now, said Mikal was the DPOG against the Spurs, said they were great at keeping guys one pass away.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Thunder likely just rested Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein yesterday for the B2B, and we’ll see if someone like Chet Holmgren sits out (he hasn’t played in a B2B since Feb. 11-12). OKC’s defense has been elite as usual in all of their games where they were not resting guys in February, and they’ve been excellent at keeping teams off the boards in those games, too. It’s an obviously terrible spot for the NYK offense, which has also been inconsistent since the All-Star break. For the Knicks on defense, they have actually been on a roll and have been excellent at keeping teams off the boards in four straight. They are going to struggle to contain the perimeter options of OKC, though.

*Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already back to full minutes, and the spread isn’t too tight for OKC here. He’s been driving like usual in his last two at 19.5 per game, and he’s firing off those at 11.0 shots per game off drives. He took it to the Knicks in two games last year with 39- and 33-point games (only 29 minutes in his 39-point game at MSG last year). He’s quite good here, and he’ll probably see a lot of Mikal Bridges with Chet possibly being out.

*We’ll see how the Thunder play it for Chet Holmgren on the B2B. His minutes will likely be in check on a B2B, making him tougher to play.

*Isaiah Hartenstein still has a limit on him, and this matchup isn’t that great against a team that rebounds well. However, Mitchell Robinson is sitting, which makes it a lot better, and maybe Chet does miss this one. If Mitch is out, iHart is somewhat viable in a plus 1-on-1 matchup against Karl-Anthony Towns.

*Jalen Brunson gets a horrible matchup against Lu Dort. It could be Cason Wallace, and whatever it is, it’ll be a terrible spot. He’s also on a B2B.

*Karl-Anthony Towns may catch some extra minutes in this spot, but the matchup is just awful. If Chet doesn’t play, you could make a case that the Knicks can generate some interior scoring. Plus, Mitchell Robinson should be out to add more ceiling should things go right. It’s still a pass.

*Mikal Bridges is in a terrible spot. The OKC defense is excellent in transition, and he’s going to have to guard SGA. It’s just a pass for me on him.

*Josh Hart and OG Anunoby could get hot from deep, and maybe their minutes get pushed up slightly even in a B2B. I still would put the fade on this entire team.

Great matchups: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Good matchups: Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein

Bad matchups: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges

Charlotte Hornets (back end) at Boston Celtics