The Warriors were far too airheaded to hold off a bulldozing Julius Randle the entire game. The Knicks end their three-game losing streak as Golden State loses a second straight game after their rout at Utah on Wednesday.
In a game that starts in slow motion, it’s Evan Fournier who wakes everyone up. The Frenchman scores 12 points and in his wake, the Knicks are 5/11 from afar to take the lead (33-28). The return to play of a much more aggressive Stephen Curry, and author of 12 points in the first six minutes of the second quarter, allows the Warriors to finally return to their match. Their defense then slowly but surely cooled New York’s address, and a winning shot from Curry from 10 meters gave them a five-point lead (62-57).
Like the day before in Utah, the Warriors return to the field without the slightest intensity and Kemba Walker takes the opportunity to launch an 11-0 Knicks (68-62). A yo-yo game ensues between the two teams. The “Splash Brothers” wake up the Dubs, before the duo Randle – Fournier puts on a layer. The Wiggins – Kuminga – Poole trio responds but the Knicks outbid (88-82).
Thanks to Alec Burks, New York then drove the point home by starting the last quarter on a 9-2 to take a 13-point lead (97-84). Stephen Curry and the awakening of the Dubs defense then sound the charge. The double MVP makes three assists, scores from afar, and the Warriors pass a 14-2 to the Knicks to return to -2 (104-102)!
It was a difficult stepback from Evan Fournier that stopped Golden State’s momentum and allowed New York to regain an eight-point lead (112-104). The Warriors will tear up until the end but Klay Thompson’s mid-range shot to snatch the extension hits the back of the circle and comes out. Deserved win for the Knicks.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Julius Randle bowls Golden State. Despite a productive but ineffective first half, the Knicks star redoubled his aggression in the third quarter to fight his way to the Warriors’ circle. Steve Kerr, who had admitted that the Warriors looked “small” the day before against the size of the Jazz, was helpless on his bench against the bulldozer Randle. Whether it was against Kevon Looney, Jonathan Kuminga or against prime target Nemanja Bjelica, the Knick walked around to score 11 of their 25 points and allow New York to take control of the game.
– The staggering omissions of the New York defense. When you play Golden State, the scouting report on the “Splash Brothers” is simple: don’t let them go. The Knicks, however, offered many open shots to the two Golden State snipers. We saw Evan Fournier at fault, arms along the body, leaving Curry to draw ten meters. Alec Burks was seen biting on a fake shot from the two-time MVP, and numerous on-screen communication issues, leaving Klay Thompson alone. These errors allowed the Warriors to revive several times while the Knicks had managed to take the upper hand.
– The too late awakening of Golden State. On the inside for the entire game, the Warriors looked like a team playing Game 2 of a back-to-back after coming home late to San Francisco. They lacked intensity, leaving 16 offensive rebounds for the Knicks. They also fired half as many free throws as their opponents, proof of a lack of aggressiveness but also of a lack of defensive rigor. However, they found the necessary resources at the end of the match to get back in the game but they were caught by the same errors during the last minute of play. As a symbol, we will remember Curry’s failed lay up, the wide open shot missed from Thompson to send the game into overtime and New York’s three offensive rebounds to move to +8 with two minutes left in the game.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Julius Randle. In Draymond Green’s absence, Golden State’s defense was far too soft on the Knicks star who walked the inside line all game, finishing with 28 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists. Far from New York and the pressure of the fans, Julius Randle revives.
✅ Evan Fournier. The Frenchman had set the sights last night, scoring 12 of his 22 points in the first quarter and finishing the game with 5 winning shots. In defense on Klay Thompson on the last action, he bites into the feint, but the essential is there: the shot is missed.
✅ Stephen Curry. The two-time MVP was the most high-profile and consistent Warrior of the night. He finished with 35 points (despite being 5/16 from afar) and 10 assists.
⛔ Kemba Walker. In the absence of RJ Barrett, Walker (8 points, 3/10 on shots) had a card played but he was transparent with the exception of a good passage at the start of the third period.
⛔ Kevin Looney. The Warriors center suffered all night against the size of Mitchell Robinson and the power of Julius Randle.
THE FOLLOWING
Golden State (41-15): the Warriors host the Lakers on Saturday at the Chase Center.
New York (25-31): the Knicks end their road trip to the West on the side of Portland.
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