Golden State Warriors Take On Desperate New York Knicks: Game Preview

As unsatisfied as some Golden State Warriors fans may be with their team’s season, we should consider ourselves lucky we aren’t New York Knicks fans. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

As unsatisfied as some Golden State Warriors fans may be with their team’s season, we should consider ourselves lucky we aren’t New York Knicks fans.

The Knicks, mired in a season full of dysfunction and vast underperformance, find themselves 1.5 games back of the final playoff spot in the East with time running out. The Warriors will try to deal their playoff hopes a big blow on Sunday night when the Knicks visit Oracle Arena.

Golden State is coming off one of its biggest wins of the season, defeating the Grizzlies 100-93 on Friday night thanks to a 14-0 run to close the game. The win gave them a bit more of a cushion in the standings, as they are in sixth, 1.5 games ahead of the Suns.

However, it’s imperative that the Warriors keep pushing until they clinch a spot in the playoffs, as the Suns, Grizzlies, and Mavericks are right on their tails. They must take advantage of an inferior opponent in the Knicks, who have lost three of four and are in the midst of a lengthy road trip.

In their only previous matchup this season, the Warriors obliterated the Knicks 126-103 at Madison Square Garden. They will hope for a similar result tonight.

Tale of the Tape

Warriors

• Points per game: 103.4 (10th)
• Field-goal percentage: 45.9% (9th)
• Three-point percentage: 37.5% (6th)
• Defensive field-goal percentage: 43.5% (4th)
• Rebounds per game: 45.3 (2nd)
• Turnovers: 15.1 (25th)

Knicks:

• Points per game: 98.6 (20th)
• Field-goal percentage: 44.8% (17th)
• Three-point percentage: 37.1% (T-9th)
• Defensive field-goal percentage: 46.2% (20th)
• Rebounds per game: 40.7 (T-26th)
• Turnovers: 12.5 (2nd)

History Says

Via Warriors.com game notes:

• One year and a day after Stephen Curry scored a career-high 54 points at Madison Square Garden, he recorded his fourth career triple-double and third this season (only Lance Stephenson, with four, has more this year) with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes (did not play in the fourth quarter) on Feb. 28 at New York… Curry became the fifth player in the modern era of Madison Square Garden (renovated in 1968) to have both a triple-double and 50-point game at MSG, joining Bernard King, Patrick Ewing, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James… Only Curry and James have done so as a visitor.
• The Warriors have won 17 of their last 22 games against the Knicks (including seven of the last nine).
• The Warriors have won 10 of the last 11 home games against the Knicks

Injury Report

GSW: Andrew Bogut (pelvic contusion) and David Lee (strained right hamstring) are questionable. Festus Ezeli (recovery from right knee surgery) is out. Nemanja Nedovic and Ogjnen Kuzmic are on assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League.

NYK: Andre Bargnani (torn ligament, left elbow) and Kenyon Martin (sore left ankle) are out.

Probable Starters

GOLDEN STATE (45-27)

• F Andre Iguodala (9.2 PPG)
• F Marreese Speights (5.9 PPG)
• C Jermaine O’Neal (7.6 PPG)
• G Klay Thompson (18.1 PPG)
• G Stephen Curry (23.6 PPG)

MEMPHIS (30-43)

• F Carmelo Anthony (28.1 PPG)
• F Amar’e Stoudemire (11.5 PPG)
• C Tyson Chandler (9.1 PPG)
• G J.R. Smith (13.4 PPG)
• G Raymond Felton (9.7 PPG)

Game Info

Tip-off: 6:00 PM PST

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

TV: LOCAL