Warriors’ Loss to Knicks: Slow Start Proves Costly
The Golden State Warriors suffered a disappointing 119-112 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday night, largely due to a slow start that proved costly. The game began with a series of careless turnovers and errant passes by the Warriors, setting the tone for their struggle throughout the match.
The defining stretch of the game came in the first five minutes, during which the Knicks took a commanding lead of 18-4. The starting lineup for the Warriors, typically their strongest unit, was outscored 15-4 before coach Steve Kerr made a substitution. Overall, the starting lineup had a minus-20 rating in just 11 minutes of play, a significant departure from their usual performance.
Three starters in particular had a difficult time during the game. Andrew Wiggins, Brandin Podziemski, and Draymond Green combined for a poor shooting performance, making only 3 of their 18 attempts. Green also committed four turnovers, while Podziemski had his least impactful game in a long time, contributing zero points and minimal stats across the board. Wiggins was even pulled from the closing lineup in the first half.
Kerr acknowledged the impact of Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau’s decision to start Miles McBride, who effectively guarded Steph Curry and had a strong offensive performance. McBride scored 11 points in the first quarter, 19 in the first half, and finished with a total of 29 points, including six three-pointers. Jalen Brunson also had an impressive game, scoring 34 points.
However, it was Isaiah Hartenstein who may have been the key player for the Knicks. In his 25 minutes on the court, he had a plus-26 rating and made significant contributions on both ends of the floor. Hartenstein’s ability to make floaters and disrupt the Warriors’ offense played a crucial role in the Knicks’ early lead and eventual victory.
Despite making several mini-comebacks and reducing the deficit to under 10 points, the Warriors were unable to sustain their momentum and mount a serious threat. Trayce Jackson-Davis credited Thibodeau’s strategic timeouts for halting the Warriors’ momentum, while Kerr attributed the loss to a lack of discipline and continual errors throughout the game.
With this loss, the Warriors find themselves slipping below the Los Angeles Lakers in the standings. Their hopes of securing a higher seed in the Play-In bracket have diminished significantly, as they are now 3 1/2 games behind the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, and four games behind the Sacramento Kings. Furthermore, they do not hold the tiebreaker against any of these teams.
As a result, it may be time for the Warriors to start focusing on their position in the lower half of the standings. They are currently only three games ahead of the 11th-seeded Houston Rockets, who have been on a winning streak lately. The Rockets pose a potential threat to the Warriors’ playoff aspirations, especially considering their favorable schedule in the coming weeks.
Despite their challenges, the Warriors have one advantage over the Rockets: they hold the tiebreaker. However, their performance at home has been inconsistent this season, with a record of 17-18 at Chase Center. This puts them in the company of the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, and San Antonio Spurs as one of the few Western Conference teams with a sub-.500 home record.
In light of these circumstances, Steph Curry expressed his frustration with the team’s performance and emphasized that the seed they secure is irrelevant if they continue to play like they did against the Knicks. He highlighted the importance of consistency and stated that the team’s focus should be on improving their overall play rather than worrying about their seeding.
The loss to the Knicks serves as a wake-up call for the Warriors, reminding them of the work that needs to be done in order to compete at a higher level. With the playoffs approaching, they must address their issues and find a way to regain their winning form. Only then can they hope to make a deep playoff run and achieve their ultimate goal of winning another championship.