The New York Knicks have blown out the Golden State Warriors at home 132-94 to extend their NBA-best winning streak to eight and pile more pain on the reigning champions.
The Knicks shot 51% from the field including 42% from downtown, with Immanuel Quickley (22 points), Jalen Brunson (21 points), and Quintin Grimes leading the way.
Jordan Poole’s 25 points paced the Warriors, who suffered their sixth loss from their last eight games to fall to 15-17 – and an NBA-worst 3-15 on the road – as they brace to be without Steph Curry (shoulder) for an extended period and Andrew Wiggins (groin) for a few more games.
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Wed, 21 Dec
Wednesday December 21st
The Knicks got the early jump at Madison Square Garden, leading 33-25 at the first change. Golden State got back into the contest in the second term, with consecutive threes to Moses Moody and Ty Jerome cutting the visitors’ deficit to 41-45 with eight minutes remaining in the period.
But New York responded, closing out the half on a 24-15 run to extend its lead to 13 by the main break.
The Knicks kept pushing in the third to push their lead out to 20 points as a blowout loomed barring a late Warriors fightback.
Tom Thibodeau’s side however showed no mercy and only further ballooned its lead beyond 30 points in a dominant 32-13 final stanza.
With it, the Knicks improved to 18-13 overall to climb into the East’s sixth seed.
ELSEWHERE…
Lauri Markkanen dropped a career-high 38 points with nine three-pointers to lead the Utah Jazz past the Detroit Pistons 126-111.
It continues Markkanen’s brilliant season since getting traded from the Cavaliers for Donovan Mitchell, with the Finnish star averaging 22.3 points per game and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 42% from downtown.
Elsewhere, Jordan Clarkson added 21 points and six assists and Jarred Vanderbilt racked up 18 points, 13 boards, six assists and two steals as the Jazz improved to 18-16.
Pistons rookie Jaden Ivey poured in a career-best 30 points and Jalden Duren racked up 15 points and 14 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough in the end.
In Miami, Chicago snapped a four-game losing streak in a 113-103 win over an undermanned Heat.
Nikola Vucevic (29 points, 12 rebounds), DeMar DeRozan (24 points) and Zach LaVine (21 points) all came up for the Bulls in the perfect response following reports of disharmony in the locker room amid the team’s disappointing season.
Bam Adebayo recorded 27 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for Miami, who was without Jimmy Butler (stomach illness) and Kyle Lowry (knee).
ALL RESULTS
JAZZ 126 PISTONS 111
WARRIORS 94 KNICKS 132
WIZARDS – SUNS
GRIZZLIES – NUGGETS
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