NEW York Knicks matched their longest winning streak of the season as they walloped the Golden State Warriors, 119-104, in the 2020-2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) Season at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, United States on Thursday night (Friday in the Philippines).
RJ Barrett spearheaded the offense with career-high 28 points while Mitchell Robinson added 18 markers as the Knicks recorded their third consecutive victory and improved to a 8-8 win-loss slate.
Julius Randle flirted with triple-double 16 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists while Elfrid Payton, Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks also finished the game in double-figures 15, 12 and 11 respectively.
The Knicks waxed hot early with Bullock and Barrett hitting their shots for a 40-31 advantage. They were still on top in the second period, but Golden State rallied back to come to within 63-57 at the half.
The Knicks took advantage of Warriors’ poor shooting in the third quarter on inside hits from Robinson and three-point baskets by Burks and Bullock, 89-76.
The lead reached its largest at 98-81 for the Knicks on free throws by Nerlens Noel. The Warriors reached 92-106, but New York went for the kill on five straight points by Robinson and two freebies by Burks.
Stephen Curry finished the match with 30 points, including five triples while Andrew Wiggins and James Wiseman added 17 and 15 markers respectively as the Warriors dropped to 8-7.
In other NBA game, Los Angeles Lakers (12-4) cruised to solo first place in the Western Conference standings with a 113-106 victory over Milwaukee Bucks (9-6). LeBron James tallied season-best 34 points along with eight assists and six rebounds.
The Lakers were ahead 63-57 after a frenetic first 24 minutes that featured seven ties and nine lead changes. LA outscored Milwaukee 20-8 over the last five minutes of the second quarter, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 35-footer at the buzzer.
Los Angeles were on top 98-87 when the Bucks made a huge run inching closer with 102-100, but three-point baskets from Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso and James iced the win for the defending champions.
Utah Jazz (11-4), on the other hand, recovered from a slow start to score a 129-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans (5-9). Donovan Mitchell top-scored with 36 points.
BOX SCORE:
NEW YORK 119 – Barrett 28, Robinson 18, Randle 16, Payton 15, Bullock 12, Burks 11, Noel 6, Toppin 5, Quickley 5, Knox 3.
GOLDEN STATE 104 – Curry 30, Wiggins 17, Wiseman 15, Paschall 12, Bazemore 8, Oubre 7, Wanamaker 4, Green 3, Looney 3, Mulder 3, Poole 1, Mannion 1, Lee 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
Q1, 40-31; Q2, 63-57; Q3, 89-76; Q4, 119-104./PN
