For two-and-a-half minutes, the Warriors held the Knicks scoreless. The intensified defensive effort allowed Golden State to claw back from a 13-point deficit and make it a one-possession game.
But then with 30 seconds left and the Knicks up two, Julius Randle sized up Klay Thompson in an isolation. He drove left to his dominant hand, scooped up a layup. Jonathan Kuminga leapt up and rejected it, continuing Golden State’s incredible defense.
Only Kuminga rotated a half-second too late. He blocked Randle’s attempt right as it started its downward trajectory, his goaltend giving New York a four-point advantage.
A free-throw contest ensued, then Klay Thompson missed the potential game-tying jumper as time expired.
The Knicks, currently in 12th place in the East, had lost six road games in a row entering Thursday. But New York ended that streak by handing the Warriors (41-15) their second loss in as many nights behind a monster game from Julius Randle and a convincing performance inside.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 35 points, but he needed 25 shots to get there and shot 5-for-16 from deep. No other Warrior reached 20 points, including Thompson (17 points on 17 shots).
Here are three takeaways from Golden State’s loss.
Rebounding woes return
One night after getting out-rebounded 52 to 35 — including 11 offensive rebounds to three — by the Jazz, the Warriors struggled to control the boards again.
Steve Kerr said pregame part of the rebounding issues in Utah were due to a larger defensive malaise. Warriors were slow to the ball, slow to cutters, and slow to put a body on Utah players inside to box out.
It also didn’t help that Kevon Looney is Golden State’s lone healthy big at the moment, and he went up against Utah goliaths Udoka Azubuike and Hassan Whiteside. That issue resurfaced against Mitchell Robinson, Taj Gibson and Julius Randle (28 points, 16 rebounds).
At halftime, the Knicks had a 29 to 18 rebounding advantage. Randle grabbed 10 boards before any Warrior could corral four.
The Knicks hauled in 51 rebounds to Golden State’s 38. New York’s 16 offensive rebounds led to 17 second-chance points
Golden State struggled to finish possessions so much, they allowed an offensive rebound on a missed free throw on two separate occasions.
Golden State’s trade deadline inaction signaled the team is confident Draymond Green and James Wiseman will return and seriously contribute. Until then, the Warriors might need to get creative to solve their rebounding problems.
Cam Reddish, talented young wing!
After the Knicks traded Kevin Knox and a first round pick to Atlanta for Cam Reddish, it seemed like coach Tom Thibodeau took a few days to get the memo.
Reddish didn’t play in eight of his first 13 games with New York. In the five games he played, the former 10th overall pick maxed out at 15 minutes. He was mostly playing garbage time.
Teams clearly don’t trade away first round picks for benchwarmers. Perhaps Reddish needed some time to learn Thibodeau’s defensive schemes and a new set of plays. But the lack of playing time was still inexplicable. Especially with RJ Barrett sidelined, it’s not like the guards playing ahead of Reddish are world-beaters.
Someone must have gotten to Thibodeau, because Reddish played nine first-half minutes and sank four of his first five shots. He finished with 12 points, three assists and a steal in 19 minutes — his most in a Knicks uniform. He did, however, miss a key late free throw.
Taking a flier on Reddish, who was stuck in a wing logjam in Atlanta, made complete sense for the Knicks. Waiting 14 games to actually play him? Not so much. But better late than never.
A medicine taste of a third quarter
Over the years, the Warriors have claimed third quarters as their own. They’ve been so dominant out of halftime at points over the dynasty, the basketball nerd community practically patented the Golden State Third Quarter ™.
But Thursday, the Knicks handed it to the Warriors in the third period. Randle specifically made an impact, scoring 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting in the frame alone. He bullied GSW rookie Jonathan Kuminga over and over in the post, earning two and-1s.
As Randle owned the paint and the Knicks continued to clean up the glass, The Warriors’ five-point lead turned into a six-point deficit. New York won the third quarter 31 to 20, then started the fourth on a 9-2 run.
In that 14-minute span, the Knicks stretched their lead to a game-high 13 points. The Warriors made the uphill climb back into it, but the incline proved just a grade too steep.