A lot for the crunch-time narrative at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Clutch performances have been a defining trait of the Knicks this season, fueled by Jalen Brunson, the NBA’s front-runner in crunch-time factors.
The NBA defines clutch time as the ultimate 5 minutes of a recreation inside a five-point margin.
On Tuesday, the Knicks by no means bought there.
The Warriors made certain of it, taking management late and securing a 114-102 victory at MSG that left New York with no alternative for an additional late-game comeback.
With out Karl-Anthony Cities (private causes), the Knicks and Warriors performed an evenly matched contest for three-and-a-half quarters. In truth, New York constructed a 10-point lead within the second quarter behind scorching capturing from Brunson and OG Anunoby.
After which Stephen Curry flipped the change.
As soon as Curry bought rolling, so did the Warriors’ protection. Golden State suffocated the Knicks down the stretch, turning an in depth recreation right into a decisive victory.
It wasn’t an explosive night time by Curry’s requirements, however he delivered when it mattered most — together with a late alley-oop to Brandon Podziemski with beneath 30 seconds left to place an exclamation level on the win.
The four-time champion and two-time MVP completed with 28 factors, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds on 5-of-7 capturing from downtown.
MSG confirmed its respect.
It’s not on daily basis The Backyard crowd cheers for an opposing participant, however Curry is the sort of star who instructions admiration in each market.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged Curry’s greatness earlier than tipoff.
“It’s who he is. He’s done it everywhere. I had the opportunity to coach him with Team USA. When you get to see how he prepares and just the little nuances to his game, it’s not an accident,” Thibodeau mentioned.
“Sometimes when he’s shooting, you don’t realize the subtleties — how he creates separation, how quick his release is, and how well-balanced he always is. He’s a terrific shot-maker.”
Brunson completed with 25 factors on 9-of-18 capturing however struggled from deep, going simply 1-of-7 from three.
Anunoby led all scorers with 29 factors on 11-of-19 capturing, persevering with his sturdy play, however the Knicks couldn’t get sufficient from the remainder of their core. Mikal Bridges added 15 factors on 7-of-15 capturing, and Josh Hart had a uncommon off night time, ending with two factors, eight rebounds, and three assists on 1-of-7 capturing.
That inconsistency allowed Golden State to grab management late, outscoring the Knicks 32-19 within the fourth quarter to erase any hope of a comeback.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr praised Brunson’s skill to dominate video games and defined the issue of defending him.
“Yeah, you have to mix it up. Last year, we came in here and had a good game, got off to a great start, and we defended him pretty well. And then I think three weeks later at Chase Center, he came out and just torched us — had about 38,” Kerr recalled.
“So we know what kind of competitor he is. It’s more about how ready we are to fight and if we’re locked in from the start. We know they’re a hell of a team—40-20, pretty big-time record—so this’ll be our biggest challenge since we’ve gotten Jimmy [Butler] on our team. We’re excited.”
Now, the Knicks embark on a crucial five-game West Coast highway journey that may see them face the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, the Warriors in a rematch, the Sacramento Kings and Portland Path Blazers.
They’ll want extra from Brunson and his supporting forged if they need a distinct consequence once they see the Warriors once more on their dwelling flooring.
Having Cities again within the lineup wouldn’t harm, both.
“[The Knicks with Towns] is different. And then you have to account for Mitchell Robinson being back, too, and see how many minutes he plays,” Kerr mentioned. “We haven’t seen him in a couple years. He’s a game-changer for them with being a lob threat, shot-blocker.”
