The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to The Big Apple to play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

The Thunder (27-18) come into this matchup losing five of their last seven games, as that's the worst stretch of the season since an 0-4 start. The most recent win is one to build off of though, as Oklahoma City went into Philly and snatched a win at the buzzer from a talented Sixers team. This has really turned into one of the scariest teams in the league because of their one-two punch, with Russell Westbrook and Paul George well on their way to another all-star appearance. George has been especially good, as he's setting career-high numbers across the board. Those two have this club top-10 in both scoring and points allowed, as they're one of the only teams in the league who hold that distinction.

The Knicks (10-34) come into this matchup losing 18 of their last 20 games, as that stretch has likely ended any pursuit for playoff hopes. It's no surprise when considering the statistics, with New York sitting 23rd in scoring, 30th in assists and 27th in points allowed. The fact that they're without Kristaps Porzingis (knee) just adds to the downfall, as there really hasn't been many updates on his status. If there's a silver lining, it's the fact that they've found some solid role players to build around Porzingis, with players like Emmanuel Mudiay and Noah Vonleh having breakout seasons. New York is going with a strategy of accumulating first-round busts and these two appear to be great finds. Players like Mario Hezonja and Trey Burke have shown some signs too, as the Knicks are desperate to find a diamond in the rough. It's a fascinating strategy and Knicks fans will go for anything at this point.

The first game between these teams was a lopsided one, with the Thunder prevailing, 128-103, on November 14. That marked Oklahoma City's fifth win in their last six games against New York.