Warriors stunning upset bid falls just short vs. Knicks

Ten days after a stunning overtime road win against the HoustonRockets, which was hailed as the potential win of the year, the severely shorthanded Golden State Warriors nearly pulled off another massive upset on the road, this time against the New York Knicks. Despite ultimately losing 110-107, the Warriors, missing a staggering list of key players including Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porziņģis, pushed a Finals-contending Knicks team to the final possession after once leading by 21 points.

The Warriors, fielding a rotation heavily composed of undrafted and two-way contract players, started the game with exceptional energy. They built an early lead through aggressive offense, highlighted by Quinten Post's scoring and a strong debut from 10-day signee Ömer Yurtseven. A late 11-0 run capped by a Malevy Leons tip-in gave them a shocking 35-21 lead after the first quarter, which they extended to 46-25 in the second quarter, silencing Madison Square Garden.

Golden State's strategy of attacking the paint instead of settling for threes was effective, and their defense was solid, forcing the Knicks into stagnant isolation plays. However, momentum shifted near the end of the first half as New York tightened their defense, causing Warrior turnovers and sloppy offense. A poorly executed two-for-one sequence to end the half allowed the Knicks to cut the deficit to 54-45 at halftime.

The Knicks carried that momentum into the third quarter, quickly erasing the deficit. Despite resilient efforts from the Warriors, including second-chance points and defensive plays, New York took their first lead since the game's opening minutes on a Jalen Brunson floater and entered the fourth quarter ahead 83-80. The Knicks, with their full roster, began to dominate hustle plays and execution, building a seven-point lead midway through the final period.

Defying expectations, the Warriors refused to collapse. They continued to make hustle plays, with Gui Santos scoring 11 crafty fourth-quarter points to lead a resilient offensive charge. The team blocked shots and creatively found ways to score, pulling within a single point in the game's final moments. Despite their extraordinary effort against a superior opponent, the comeback fell just short, resulting in a narrow three-point loss.