Knicks Fall Short Against Warriors, 114-102
The New York Knicks’ attempt to extend their winning streak to four games was thwarted on Tuesday night as they suffered a 114-102 loss to the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden. The game had its share of ups and downs, but ultimately, the Knicks fell short despite a solid first half and a valiant effort.
Pre-Game Update: Towns Out Due to Personal Reasons
The Knicks faced an early setback as Karl-Anthony Towns was ruled out of the game due to personal reasons just a few hours before tip-off. Towns, listed as questionable earlier in the day, was a significant loss for the Knicks, and head coach Tom Thibodeau expressed uncertainty about his availability for the team’s upcoming five-game road trip, which begins on Thursday.
A Promising Start
Despite the early deficit of eight unanswered points from the Warriors, the Knicks quickly found their rhythm. They made seven of their first eight shots, erasing the deficit and taking a 15-14 lead midway through the first quarter. The teams exchanged baskets, and by the end of the first quarter, the Knicks held a slim one-point lead. This early resilience set the tone for a back-and-forth battle.
Second-Quarter Surge
Thibodeau stretched the Knicks’ rotation to nine players early in the second quarter, and the bench provided a spark. With some help from the second unit and some cold shooting from the Warriors, the Knicks extended their lead to nine points by the eight-minute mark. However, the Warriors closed the gap with consecutive three-pointers, forcing a Knicks timeout with the score at 32-36. The Knicks managed to push their lead to double-digits by halftime, with Jalen Brunson leading the charge with 17 points.
Warriors’ Halftime Adjustment
The game took a sharp turn in the third quarter. Whatever the Warriors discussed in the locker room at halftime clearly paid off, as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson spearheaded a 17-7 run that wiped out the Knicks’ lead and put the Warriors ahead 64-62 with 7:31 left in the quarter. New York’s transition defense struggled, allowing 11 fast-break points in the period. Despite this, the Knicks responded with an 8-0 run in the closing minutes of the third, temporarily reclaiming the lead. However, a buzzer-beating three from the Warriors put them back on top heading into the fourth quarter.
Final Period Struggles
The see-saw nature of the game continued into the fourth quarter, but the Warriors’ shooting heated up. By the midway point, OG Anunoby, who led the Knicks with 29 points, helped cut the deficit to a single point. However, Stephen Curry’s return to the floor provided a significant boost, and the Warriors extended their lead. The Knicks struggled with cold shooting, missing nine consecutive shots over a four-minute stretch, allowing the Warriors to build a comfortable 12-point lead. Curry sealed the game with a dagger three-pointer and his signature sleep celebration, silencing The Garden crowd.
Key Takeaways
Despite similar rebounding and paint-point totals, the Knicks were hampered by 14 turnovers, which resulted in 23 points for the Warriors. New York’s three-point shooting was also a critical issue, as they finished 8 of 33 from beyond the arc, compared to the Warriors’ 13 of 37. Josh Hart was a non-factor on offense, scoring just 2 points on 1 of 8 shooting, while Mitchell Robinson made his first start of the season, contributing 7 points and 5 rebounds. Precious Achiuwa saw the most playing time among bench players, logging 30 minutes.
Up Next
The Knicks (40-21) will begin their five-game road trip with a challenging matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night (10 p.m. local tip). This game will be a crucial test for a team that has shown both promise and vulnerability in recent games.
