Run-down Warriors get steamrolled at MSG
The red-hot Knicks had their way with the reigning champs.
>NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 20: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State
Warriors dribbles against the New York Knicks during the second quarter
of the game at Madison Square Garden on December 20, 2022 in New York
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By MADELINE KENNEY | mkenney@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: December 20, 2022 at 6:53 p.m. | UPDATED: December 20, 2022
at 6:53 p.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/12/20/run-down-warriors-get-steamrolled-at-msg/

NEW YORK CITY — The Warriors found a recipe for success Sunday in
Toronto without Stephen Curry.

It featured Jordan Poole playing at his absolute best. Donte DiVincenzo
being an aggressive and disruptive defender. And the entire team being
locked in on both ends for the full 48 minutes.

But some of the ingredients were missing in the Warriors’ embarrassing
132-94 loss to the red-hot New York Knicks.

The Warriors, already without Curry (left shoulder injury) and Andrew
Wiggins (strained thigh muscle), were down Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal
Green who were feeling under the weather, with Green entering the
league’s health and safety protocols. Assistant coach Jama Mahlalela was
also not on the bench for Tuesday’s game.

It was an ugly night in Madison Square Garden for the reigning champs.
The Knicks had their way with the Warriors, jumping out to an 8-0 lead
over the first three minutes and remaining in control for the rest of
the way.

By the end of the first half, the Knicks had made 11 triples, which is
what they’re averaging per game this season. They finished the night
shooting 51.7% from the field while going 17-of-40 (42.5%) from 3-point
land.

Five Knicks players scored 15 or more points. Immanuel Quickley led the
charge with 22 points and Jalen Brunson added 21 to stretch the Knicks
win streak to eight.

Meanwhile, the Warriors went cold in chilly New York. They shot 47.3%
from the field and went 12-for-35 from 3-point range.

Jordan Poole, after scoring a career-high 43 points Sunday, finished
with a team-high 26 points.

Klay Thompson has struggled to get going on this road trip. That trend
continued into Tuesday’s loss. Thompson committed five of the Warriors’
eight first-half turnovers. He had 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting and
made only one of his five 3-point attempts.

It’s unclear how much of Thompson’s inability to get into rhythm is the
result of his bum left knee. Thompson has appeared on the team’s injury
report before each of the last three games as he’s been experiencing
soreness in his surgically repaired knee.

Kerr previously said he wasn’t overly concerned with Thompson’s
experiencing pain in his knee.

“When you get older and you’ve had injuries, you’re more prone to pain.
And then when you get to 57, everything hurts but fortunately Klay’s
only 32. So he’s 25 years away from where I am right now,” Kerr said.

The Knicks also outrebounded the Warriors 57-32 and the Warriors
committed 19 turnovers.

Things could get worse for the 15-17 Warriors before they get better.
They’ll close out this six-game road trip Wednesday night in Brooklyn
when they play the well-rested and surging Nets. With Curry and Wiggins
still sidelined, the Warriors will likely also be without Thompson, who
has yet to play in consecutive nights since returning from two major
injuries. Draymond Green’s status is also up in the air as he’s been
rested on two of the Warriors’ five back-to-backs this season.

Golden State is now 3-15 on the road and sits at 11th place in the
Western Conference standings.