Remembering Carmelo Anthony's 3 best games for the Oklahoma City Thunder

During the summer of 2017, Carmelo Anthony had been expected to join the Houston Rockets. The Western Conference high-flyers were looking to add a third star alongside James Harden and the newly acquired Chris Paul, and for months, reports stated that Melo's arrival was imminent.

However, with the 17/18 season quickly approaching, the Thunder surprised the basketball world by announcing a deal that would take the 10-time All-Star to Oklahoma City. The Thunder's new starting trio of Paul George, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony was quickly dubbed the 'OK3', and the team was widely expected to be among the biggest threats to the Golden State Warriors' continued dominance.

Evidently, the OK3 era did not go as planned, as the team struggled for cohesion all season long, and the Thunder eventually suffered a disappointing First Round playoff exit to the Utah Jazz. Following the season, Melo soon exited the team in a cost-cutting move, bringing an end to the 'OK3' experiment after less than a year. Anthony's performances were widely criticized throughout the season, although here, we will cast an eye over his best in a Thunder uniform.

#3 October 25th vs. Indiana Pacers

The Thunder's early season clash against the Pacers was just Melo's fifth appearance for the team, although it was ultimately one of his standout performances from his brief stay in Oklahoma City. Melo finished with a rare double-double, recording 28 points and 10 rebounds, and his performance alongside a Russell Westbrook triple-double was enough to secure the OKC a hard fought 114-96 win.

During his 33 minutes on the court, Melo shot over 50% from the field, while also hitting 3 of his 7 three-point attempts. On the defensive end, he also recorded a season-high 3 blocks, while all his rebounds came on the Thunder's glass, amounting to his best defensive performance in a Thunder uniform.

#2 January 4 vs. Los Angeles Clippers: 22 Points - 4 Rebounds

Oklahoma City Thunder v Los Angeles Clippers

While Anthony enjoyed a strong performance against the Clippers during this January 4 matchup, the game is also remembered for Melo surpassing Patrick Ewing to move into 21st place on the NBA all-time scoring list. As part of their LA back-to-back, the Thunder picked up a second consecutive win against the Clippers following the demolition of the Lakers, and it took Melo just 8 minutes to reach the 10 points he needed to pass Ewing on the scoring list.

Anthony then went on to enjoy one of his most productive games of the season, sinking 9 of 12 from the floor, while also hitting 50% of his six shots from beyond the arc. At the conclusion, Melo had amassed 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, and the game signified a strong start to the year for the veteran.

#1 January 20 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: 29 Points - 10 Rebounds

Oklahoma City Thunder v Cleveland Cavaliers

On Jan. 20 2018, the Thunder travelled to face LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena. Heading into the game, OKC was struggling at both ends of the court, and while their defense once again leaked points, Billy Donovan's men put on an offensive masterclass, reaching nearly 150 points during a huge victory.

The game finished 148-124, and 33-year-old Anthony had a season-high 29 points in just 28 minutes action, also adding 10 rebounds and three assists. Melo finished the game shooting 11 of 19 from the floor, taking full advantage of Isaiah Thomas' presence on the court.

Ultimately, this was the version of Anthony that Thunder fans thought they would get all season long, although the game now serves as a reminder of what could have been for the OK3.

Edited by Sai Krishna