Knicks’ Late Rally Falls Short Against Warriors, Losing 106-92

Carmelo Anthony rested for Saturday night’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors, but prior to the game starting was presented with his 2015 NBA All-Star Jersey.

The New York Knicks got out to an early 10-5 lead, but then the Warriors got their act together and clamped down on defense. Golden State is the top ranked defensive team in opponent’s field goal percentage, and they showed it, shutting down New York for a four minute stretch. The Warriors forced nine straight missed field goals and a shot clock violation; this helped held New York to 34.8% shooting in the first quarter of play. Warriors were able to take advantage, going on a 15-0 run to lead 20-10 with 4:06 remaining in the first quarter. Golden State led 32-19 after the one quarter despite the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson early struggles, shooting a combined 2/11 in the opening period.

Golden State led by as many as 24 points in the second quarter, behind ten second quarter points from Draymond Green. Green finished the game with the best +/- Saturday night, with a +23 for the game. Green had an impressive stat line of 20 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assist, including three three-pointers, and a block and couple of steals for good measure. Former Knick David Lee also helped lead the way for Golden State, scoring all ten of his points in the first half to give the Warriors a 64-48 advantage at intermission.

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Two flagrant-one foul calls seemed to have changed the momentum of the game, even though neither one of them seem all too malicious. With the first one just under the five minute mark in the second quarter, Thompson attacked the rim and Langston Galloway not wanting to give up an easy basket, fouled Klay hard to prevent the play. A minute later Jose Calderon grabbed the rebound and started dribbling up the court but Andrew Bogut swiped Calderon’s face as he swung his arms in a running motion up the court. Calderon split the free throws, and on the extra possession Galloway knocked down a three-pointer to help ignite a 14-2 run to get New York within a dozen, 56-44 with 1:28 remaining in the first half.

Golden State behind Thompson, who scored 11 of the last dozen points to end the third quarter for the Warriors, led by as many as 26 points in the third quarter. It looked like the game was about to be over, but the Warriors put it in cruise control a little too soon… Golden State did not convert on a field for eight minutes in the final period, scoring only on three made free throws. New York during this stretch would go on a 16-3 run to get as close as within five points with 4:20 left in the game.

Curry, who had been struggling all game thus far, going 5/14 from the field and 1/3 from the charity stripe, along with three turnovers, showed why he should be MVP. Curry scored eight straight points to end the game, including back to back three-pointers to put the nail in the coffin for New York. Curry finished with a game high 22 points as the Warriors won 106-92.

Steve Kerr collects his first win at Madison Square Garden, after rejecting his mentor Phil Jackson’s offer to coach the Knicks last spring. Seeing as how Golden State is top in the Western Conference with a 40-9 record and New York is the worst team in the NBA with a 10-41 record, safe to say Kerr made the right choice.