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The Golden State Warriors overcame a shaky start at home to beat down the shorthanded New York Knicks, 123-112. Kevin Durant was ejected for arguing foul calls late in the game, but not before tallying 14 points and a career high 14 assists.
KD just got ejected. It's the fourth quarter and they're up 18 with 2:50 left. So he got his money's worth
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) January 24, 2018
Stephen Curry bounced back from his rough outing the previous game in Houston, pouring on an entertaining 32 points (8-of-15 from downtown), 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. The Knicks were missing newly minted All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis due to injury, but I’m not sure his presence would have changed the final result.
The Splash Bros have a dry start
Random sidenote: as a child during the ‘90s, I was a huge fan of Michael Jordan’s classic film, “Space Jam’. To this day, anytime I see star players playing uncharacteristically bad against the Knicks, I can’t help but wonder if the Monstarz stole their powers.
Warriors go 1-of-11 from 3 in a brutal first quarter, clanked several wide open corner looks. Gave up 31 points to a Knicks team pounding them in the paint. Trail by 10.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 24, 2018
It goes without saying that once Klay Thompson and Curry combined to shoot 4-of-16 from the field (2-for-10 from the arc) going into halftime, a “Monstarz” scenario was definitely play.
Additionally, the Warriors had a few lapses of concentration on the defensive end that drew head coach Steve Kerr’s ire. Kerr called repeated, pointed timeouts after the team failed to stop fast breaks because they were too busy arguing with the refs over non-foul calls.
Even still, the Dubs overall superior talent shined as they gobbled up the early deficit. Durant and David West carried the team’s offensive effort, while the Knicks weren’t able to capitalize on their early burst to gain much separation.
At the half: #Warriors trail #Knicks 60-58.
— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) January 24, 2018
Durant 14p/7a/2r/2s/1blk
West 8 (4-4 FG)
Curry/Thompson combined: 12p on 4-16 shooting.
Dubs love the third quarter
Per usual, in the third period the Warriors jumped all over their overmatched opponent with a blistering run. They got up by as much as 14, outscoring New York 36-27 for the quarter. Curry 17 points in the period ignited the assault. Every bucket he scored lifted the spirits of the home crowd and demoralized the wounded Knicks.
3FG number eight tonight for @StephenCurry30. pic.twitter.com/l8UnU625gP
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 24, 2018
Interestingly enough, Durant didn’t score a single point in the quarter, but kept his teammates involved with five assists. When he sat down towards the end of the quarter, he had already tied his previous career high in assists (12).
Warriors updated third quarter plus/minus: +255
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 24, 2018
That's nearly 100 points better than their other three quarters combined: +159
Play of the night!
I’m having a hard time choosing the most gold-blooded sequence of the evening.
Durant and Curry turning defense into offense?
Sequence of the night? (@nbcsauthentic) pic.twitter.com/EigApD0xEU
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 24, 2018
Or was it Zaza Pachulia going all Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon here?
The bench was loving @zaza27’s hesi pic.twitter.com/91skhQgD3G
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 24, 2018
Tough call!
Poll
Who was the Warriors Wonder in the win over NYK?
This poll is closed
-
47%
Stephen Curry
(361 votes) -
1%
Klay Thompson
(9 votes) -
9%
Kevin Durant
(75 votes) -
1%
Draymond Green
(9 votes) -
7%
Zaza Pachulia
(55 votes) -
0%
Shaun Livingston
(4 votes) -
29%
David West
(228 votes) -
2%
Kevon Looney
(16 votes) -
0%
Andre Iguodala
(1 vote) -
0%
Patrick McCaw
(2 votes) -
1%
Nick Young
(8 votes)