HALFTIME RECAP WITH HIGHLIGHTS: Warriors Carving Up New York Knicks With 26 Assists On 26 Field Goals, Lead 59-45

ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — Two nights after ending a five-game road trip with a thrilling late victory in New Orleans, the Golden State Warriors (22-4) returned for a short three-game home stand against the New York Knicks (14-11).

The Warriors were without Zaza Pachulia (right wrist contusion). Damian Jones was listed as inactive.

The Knicks were without Carmelo Anthony (sore right shoulder) and Derrick Rose (sore lower back).

Prior to the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addressed the crowd to send their condolences to thirty-year veteran NBA broadcaster Craig Sager.

Q1: JaVale!

Both teams missed a lot of shots, both inside and out. Kevin Durant broke an 0-for-5 team spell with a fade-away from the right baseline in transition on a delivery by Draymond Green for the Warriors’ first two points.

Klay Thompson traveled, but made up for it with a triple on a lefty laser by Stephen Curry…

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…and Green added a three from Durant cross-court in the post.

Then both teams went on another drought, but JaVale McGee, who got the start in place of the injured Pachulia, dunked home a feed from “KD”, breaking a 3-for-11 team slump. Golden State led early on, 10-6, with 7:16 remaining.

The Knicks were a cold 3-for-16 and Brandon Jennings couldn’t get a deep three before the shot clock horn, and Curry up-faked Kristaps Porzingis to drive in and dish to McGee for an “and-one” dunk, although McGee missed the free throw.

Kerr took a timeout after a Jennings floater brought the Knicks back to within 12-8 with 6:25 to play.

Out of the timeout, Curry missed a curl-and-pivot trey and Jennings forced the action to find a cutting Kyle O’Quinn for a bucket and the harm charged to Andre Iguodala, but Thompson answered by dribbling inside to lob really high to JaVale.

McGee still managed to bring the ball down for a “slam”:

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After a coast-to-coast streak by Jennings, Klay got another lob to McGee.

Draymond then held his ground against Porzingis, who faded for an airball, Curry attacked on the inbound from Kevon Looney, who had just subbed in for McGee, and found Iguodala for a smash:

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Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek called timeout as Draymond gave the timeout signal, then walked over a little past halfcourt to stare at the Knicks’ bench, which probably said something during Porzingis’ post-up.

The Warriors moved ahead, 20-12.

Out of the timeout, Thompson made an inside cut and Draymond gave him a dime, Ian Clark up-faked for a dribble-and-pop on the left elbow, Looney also scored a reverse on an up-fake, and Durant hit a triple from the top.

But New York countered with another Jennings runner, then non-household-names Willy Hernangomez and Mindaugus Kuzminskas got into the action with a lefty hook, a three, and a drive over Looney helping.

KD also lost a shoe (again), on a spin move out up top and turned the ball over, but Clark stole it back and found a cherry-picking Klay for a rare two-hand jam.

At the end of the first quarter, the Warriors led, 32-25. Thompson led the way with 9 points and McGee had 8.

Q2: Assistesses

Both teams hit another drought to start the second stanza, but just under the ten-minute mark, David West pulled down a missed jumper by ex-Warrior Justin Holiday, outlet to Iguodala, and Andre finished with a scoop after a Euro-step.

After a Holiday three, Curry found Patrick McCaw, who somehow found Shaun Livingston:

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Later, Livingston added a jumper, McCaw hit a long two via Durant double-team on the baseline, then KD took Porzingis on the right baseline for a long-stepping reverse lay-in, but Ron Baker went past Durant for a layup, then hit a triple from the left arc in front of him, and Kerr took a timeout to remedy the laziness as the Knicks moved back to a seven-point deficit, 42-35, with 6:22 to go.

Out of the timeout, Steph hit a three, then stole the ball, which led to another Livingston jumper, and Hornacek called timeout to stop the momentary bleeding as Golden State took a 47-37 lead with 5:13 left.

Later, Curry drove in to find Klay from the left corner for a trey, via no-look:

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Steph and Joakim Noah got held up on a rebound of a Knicks miss, then Curry stole the jump by tipping the ball back towards the New York glass, which Iguodala grabbed:

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But the Warriors missed again and Jennings raced ahead for another runner.

Curry hit a three to answer, Jennings answered again with a layup that missed as Draymond helped, but Porzingis was there for the follow slam as Steph told Green it was his fault for being porous against Jennings.

Thompson drove in a again and got to the rim for two, then after Draymond blocked Thomas’ layup, Curry found KD for a dunk and Hornacek was forced to stem the tide with another timeout as Golden State stretched out their lead to 59-45 with 1:39 remaining.

But Draymond threw the ball away and Klay lost the ball after rebounding a miss by Jennings with 4 seconds to play, and the score stayed 59-45 heading into halftime.

Thompson led all scorers with 14 points on 6-for-10 field, Curry tallied 7 assists, and Durant had 7 boards, as the Warriors tallied an astonishing 26 assists on 26 field goals.

Jennings led the Knicks with 10 points and 3 assists, while Noah chipped in 8 rebounds. Porzingis was just 3-for-7 field for 6 points.

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(PhotO: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via @mylanpham)