Knicks at Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are no longer dominating teams from start to finish like they were during a 12-game winning streak last month, but the stars are still finding ways to come through when it matters. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and company will try to make the latest winning streak three straight when they host the New York Knicks on Thursday.
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The Warriors just finished up a brutal stretch of schedule that saw them play five road games in seven nights and managed to go 4-1 in that span after pulling off a 113-109 win in New Orleans on Tuesday by not allowing a basket in the final 4:46. Green came up with critical defensive plays on New Orleans star Anthony Davis down the stretch and finished with a triple-double to cap a solid road trip. The Knicks are taking a big step up in competition after suffering a 113-111 overtime loss at lowly Phoenix on Tuesday in which star forward Carmelo Anthony went 3-of-15 from the floor and wasn't even the worst starter on the floor for New York. Derrick Rose went 0-of-6 and managed two points in 10 minutes before leaving after experiencing the back pain that kept him out of two games last week.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT, CSN Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE KNICKS (14-11): Rose scored 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday after returning from two games off but could not get a shot to fall before going to the bench and sitting the rest of the game on Tuesday. "My back got tight and I couldn't move," Rose told reporters. "I can't tell you when it happened, I just remember my back getting tight. I just don't want to get out of my rhythm. I feel like I'm in a great rhythm. All I can do is get treatment from here." Rose, who had yet to miss a game since joining New York in the offseason before last week, is day-to-day.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (22-4): Curry scored 30 points and Durant added 27 on Tuesday, but Green's defense got most of the postgame praise. "He's helping us win in those key moments," Curry told reporters. "He loves a challenge, and obviously, he steps up when it matters most. He knows exactly how he can impact a game on that end of the floor." Green, who was called a "nasty defender" by coach Steve Kerr, finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting last season and is making a run at the award again while leading the Warriors in rebounding (8.4) and steals (2.4).
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Knicks reserve C Kyle O'Quinn sat out Sunday with an ankle injury but returned Tuesday and delivered 22 points and 14 rebounds.
2. Warriors SG Klay Thompson is 6-of-27 from 3-point range in the last four games.
3. Golden State took the two meetings last season by a total of 57 points.