Golden State Warriors hold off New York Knicks
The Golden State Warriors blew a huge lead, but they held on to escape with a 122-117 win over the New York Knicks with David Lee’s return to his former home on Wednesday, 10 November at
the Madison Square Garden in New York.
Lee, who spent his first five season in the NBA with the Knicks before being dealt to the Warriors during the off-season, chipped in a season-high 28 points, highlighted by two crucial baskets
down the stretch, and also added 10 rebounds.
The 26-year-old forward, who was traded after the Knicks signed Amar’e Stoudemire during the off-season, received a heartfelt ovation from the New York fans before the game, and Lee admitted
that it was a big confidence-booster for him.
“It meant a lot to me, and it was a great feeling,” said Lee, who shot 11-for-17 from the field and had four steals. “Like I said, it would have been all for nothing if we wouldn't have won
the game, because I would have come out of there very, very frustrated, especially after being up 19. So I'm happy we finished it out.”
Second-year point guard Stephen Curry also had his share of the spotlight as he torched the Knicks with his 25 points and eight assists, while Monta Ellis played hurt, but still managed to
score 22 points, helping the Warriors escape with their sixth win in their first eight games.
The Warriors led for almost the entire match and were comfortably ahead by 11 points, 107-96, in the 5:50 mark of the game before the Knicks had an 11-0 run to tie the game and eventually
took a 113-111 lead with 2:11 left in the game.
But Dorell Wright answered with five-straight points to regain the lead and the Warriors had crucial stops down the stretch to bag the victory. The Warriors, who improved their record to
6-2, are having their best start since the 1994-95 season.
Stoudemire, who took over Lee’s role in New York, racked up 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Wilson Chandler and Raymond Felton chipped in 27 and 20 points respectively, but the Knicks still
absorbed their fifth defeat in their first eight games this season.
“We just can't get comfortable with losing,” said a frustrated Stoudemire after the game. “So we've got to make sure that we understand how important it is to look at film and look at ourselves
in the mirror and try to improve individually, and then ultimately we'll get better as a team.”
The Knicks, who played without shooting guard Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf, struggled to find their rhythm again as they shot only 7-for-31 from beyond-the-arc, and head coach Mike D’Antoni
admitted that they were off-form in their last few games.
“Outside shots are not going. People are pressing. Little things here, little things there,” said D’Antoni. “It's going to be a little work in progress, but the one thing they did tonight,
they hung in there. They fought back.”
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