But with Hartenstein, the Knicks were limited to offering a max of four years, $72.5 million. The Thunder gave up three years, $87 million. The reason for New York’s restrictions was it originally signed Hartenstein to a two-year deal, so operated with only his partial Bird Rights. Oklahoma City signed him using straight cap space.

The Knicks brought a nine-game winning streak into Friday night's game against Isaiah Hartenstein's Thunder and Oklahoma City had won 13 in a row.

The first of two anticipated battles between the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder lived up to the hype, albeit in the latter's favor.