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New York Knicks: Five keys to defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 16

By Maxwell Ogden

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- OCTOBER 19: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks hug after the game on October 19, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Sr./NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- OCTOBER 19: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks hug after the game on October 19, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Sr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- OCTOBER 19: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks hug after the game on October 19, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Sr./NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- OCTOBER 19: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks hug after the game on October 19, 2017 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Sr./NBAE via Getty Images) /

The New York Knicks will host Carmelo Anthony and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, Dec. 16. What must the Knicks do in order to secure victory?

Saturday, Dec. 16 will be one of the most emotional days of the 2017-18 NBA regular season. Carmelo Anthony will lead the Oklahoma City Thunder into The Mecca for his first game back at Madison Square Garden since the New York Knicks traded him in September.

While all eyes will inevitably be on Anthony, the clash between the Knicks and Thunder will provide head coach Jeff Hornacek with an invaluable opportunity to start a potentially trying stretch on a high note.

New York enters the clash with Oklahoma City at 15-13 overall, 13-5 at home, and 2-8 on the road. It will look to maintain its momentum at Madison Square Garden against the Thunder, which are in the midst of a widely ridiculed season.

Although it may be the new trend to criticize the Thunder, they’ve gone 6-2 over the past eight games, and remain one of the most talented teams in the NBA.

If New York is going to defeat Oklahoma City, it will need all hands on deck. Injuries may prevent that from happening, but regardless of whom head coach Jeff Hornacek has to work with, victory will be a realistically attainable goal.

The question is: What must the New York Knicks do in order to defeat Carmelo Anthony and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, Dec. 16?

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