SAN FRANCISCO — The Knicks wrapped up a frustrating road trip with another disappointing loss.
Missing Jalen Brunson due to a sprained ankle, the Knicks squandered an early lead of 17 points. They allowed the Warriors to control the second half, showcasing their shot-making ability, physical play, and Draymond Green’s antics.
Karl-Anthony Towns took the spotlight with Brunson sidelined, facing off against longtime adversaries Green and Jimmy Butler. However, his performance in the 126-113 loss was underwhelming. He struggled with foul trouble and only managed 14 shot attempts. Towns looked promising early, achieving a double-double in the first half, but faded thereafter, finishing with just six points.
It seems Mike Brown’s defensive strategy has faltered yet again.
Consequently, the struggling Knicks (25-16) suffered their seventh loss in the last nine games, closing their Western Conference trip in Northern California with two defeats.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors (23-19) with 27 points, while Green played the part of the provocateur.
The fourth quarter turned chaotic.
With 11:01 remaining, Green fell while defending Towns, subsequently grabbing his leg as the Knicks center drove to the basket. Green received a flagrant foul for his actions, but he seemed to celebrate when Towns missed his second free throw.
Later, Towns faced scrutiny for a questionable foul on Brandin Podzemski. Following that, OG Anunoby got bloodied after a loose ball foul by Podzemski.
As the game progressed, the Knicks fell behind late, all while Brunson, who injured his ankle in a prior game, watched from the sidelines. Green mocked Towns in the final moments, apparently uninterested as the game became lopsided.
The Knicks began strong, even taking a 17-point lead in the first quarter.
Yet, they quickly lost momentum once Curry found his rhythm in the third quarter, leading to a double-digit deficit that the Knicks couldn’t overcome.
McBride filled in for Brunson as point guard. The plan was to bolster the lineup with defenders like OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart, but the defense still faltered.
McBride performed admirably with 25 points, putting some pressure on Curry, yet the Knicks’ overall defensive effort was lacking.
Following a dismal display against Sacramento, this loss further highlighted their defensive flaws. Hart challenged his teammates to step up against the Warriors.
“This is a good test for us in terms of how we respond,” Hart explained. “At some point, we need to own up and challenge ourselves defensively. We focus a lot on offense, player roles, and so on, but last month, our defense was just terrible.”
“We need to stop making excuses, wake up, and stick to a game plan focusing on defense. It’ll allow us to play our style and ensure that everyone gets involved. When we play as a team on both ends of the court, that’s when we truly see our character. We want to take on this challenge against the Warriors,” he added.
Unfortunately, they showed up lackluster and left just the same.
