OKLAHOMA CITY — The Knicks enter the cauldron that is Chesapeake Energy Arena Sunday at as good a time as any. Their 11-game winning streak has them puffing out their chests again, just as they did in November and December. The Knicks’ magic number to clinch the Atlantic Division stayed at 2 with the Nets’ win Saturday night.
The Thunder (56-20), who have won six of seven and are tied for the top seed in the Western Conference with San Antonio, beat the Knicks (49-26) exactly one month ago, 95-94. But that was when Carmelo Anthony was sitting out, resting his swollen knee.
“It’s a tough environment,’’ point guard Raymond Felton said of the league’s loudest arena. “They’re a very good team. We know going down there is a tough game, tough environment. But we have all the confidence in the world.’’
Felton’s matchup against point guard Russell Westbrook could be the key — if Anthony and Kevin Durant cancel each other out.
“It’s a tremendous test for them,’’ said Knicks legend Bernard King, who tomorrow will become a Hall of Famer. “They’ll have to be mentally ready and fired up and Felton has to do an excellent job of controlling the pace of the game and not let it get out of hand.’’
The schedule has not been too rugged during the streak — they beat the Heat’s JV squad — so a victory today certainly would validate the Knicks as title contenders. The Knicks have averaged 102.7 points on 49.6 percent shooting during the streak while allowing only 89.7 points. Teams have turned the ball over four more times than the Knicks per game.
* The burden again will be on Tyson Chandler at center with Kenyon Martin (sore knee) and Marcus Camby (plantar fasciitis) listed as doubtful.
Chandler is gradually feeling more mobile on the court during 37 minutes since returning from a 10-game absence with a bulging disk in his spine. He was ineffective in his first two outings and in obvious discomfort. But Friday he started to feel like himself, with 10 rebounds, six points (3-of-7 shooting) and three assists. He’s still wearing a black T-shirt on the court, covering tape that supports his neck.
“I felt a lot better [Friday],’’ Chandler said. “Now it’s just my timing. It’s just my third game back after three weeks. But I got to get that timing back. … I don’t have any pain in my neck and shoulders.”
* The Knicks should have back-to-back Player of the Week winners. J.R. Smith won last week and Anthony may just need to show up today to cop this week’s award. … Iman Shumpert said the biggest thrill of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Knicks’ 1972-73 title team was meeting Willis Reed, his father’s favorite. “It was a pretty big deal,’’ Shumpert said. “He showed me tapes of Game 7 [of the 1970 Finals, when Reed limped out of the tunnel to lead the Knicks].”