The Golden State Warriors recorded their 50th consecutive home victory Wednesday night, riding Stephen Curry’s 34 points to a 121-85 thumping of the New York Knicks.
Golden State’s second consecutive season-series sweep of the Knicks capped a perfect six-game homestand and improved the Warriors’ home record to 32-0 this season.
The 50-game streak, which dates back to January of 2015, is the first in the four major professional American sports.
Topping 30 points for the ninth time in his last 11 games, Curry connected on 12 of his 20 shots and eight of his 13 3-point attempts, including 4 of 7 in the first quarter, during which the Warriors (61-6) built as much as a 13-point lead.
The game was never appreciably closer.
Klay Thompson had five 3-pointers en route to 19 points, backup centre Marreese Speights bombed in a career-best three 3-pointers during a 13-point performance, and Draymond Green (11 rebounds, 10 assists) missed a 12th triple-double by four points, helping the Warriors win for the 21st time in their last 27 games against the Knicks. Green’s rebound and assist totals were game-highs.
The Warriors shot 50.5 percent in the game and made 18 of their 37 3-pointers.
Carmelo Anthony had 18 points and a team-high six assists for the Knicks (28-41), who lost for the third time in five games on the West Coast in the past nine days.
The Knicks shot just 39.6 percent from the field, with their four starters other than Anthony combining to go 5 of 27.
Rookie star Kristaps Porzingis was one of the starters who struggled. Playing three days after sitting out New York’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers because of a stomach ailment, Porzingis was held to two points on 1 of 11 shooting, his lowest scoring output since getting shut out on six shot attempts on December 12 against Portland. He did lead the Knicks with seven rebounds.
Reserves Arron Afflalo (15), Langston Galloway (14) and Kevin Seraphin (12) scored in double figures for the Knicks, who clinched their third consecutive non-winning season.
Knicks point guard Jose Calderon left the game in the second quarter after injuring his right calf in a collision with the Warriors’ Green. X-rays were negative, and Calderon was able to return in the third quarter for a short stint before calling it a night.
© Reuters
