Warriors Edge Knicks 97-94 in Nail-Biter

SAN FRANCISCO — In a tightly contested matchup, the Golden State Warriors edged the New York Knicks 97-94 on Saturday night, fueled by a late surge from Draymond Green and a game-high 29 points from Karl-Anthony Towns.

The game, held at Chase Center, showcased high stakes as the Knicks (42-24) sought to maintain momentum in the playoff race. Towns, who played an electric game with 12 rebounds, fouled out with 6.1 seconds remaining, but not before putting his team in position to win. In the final moments, the Knicks tied the score on a Mikal Bridges jumper, but an 8-1 run in the waning minutes allowed the Warriors to secure the victory.

“We tied it up with just under three minutes, but we couldn’t close it out,” said Towns, reflecting on the final minutes of the game. “It’s frustrating, but we need to learn from these moments.”

Green, who has a storied rivalry with Towns, delivered a crucial layup with 25 seconds left, solidifying the Warriors’ lead. He celebrated by mimicking a signature gesture made famous by teammate Stephen Curry, indicating a sense of victory over his longtime adversary. Green commented on the intensity of the matchup, “It was good to see KAT show up and play like that. Physical. Probably the most physical I’ve seen him play.”

The onset of the game saw Towns setting a vigorous tone, scoring 11 points within the first six minutes. As tensions escalated, however, Towns landed in foul trouble, which hampered his performance in the first half. “Once you get three, you have to be cautious,” said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau about his decision to limit Towns’ minutes. “We needed his offense.”

In the third quarter, Towns rebounded, hitting a deep 3-pointer and a hook shot that energized the Knicks, keeping them close on the scoreboard. The Knicks entered the fourth quarter trailing just 75-72, but the stage was set for a disappointing end to their road trip.

“As I said when Jalen [Brunson] went down, you’re not replacing him individually,” Thibodeau explained after the game. “We have to do it collectively.” Brunson, a key playmaker for the Knicks, was sidelined with a sprained ankle.

A notable subplot was the heated exchange between Josh Hart and Thibodeau during the fourth quarter. Hart, who scored no points, expressed frustration over his performance and acknowledged the debate was momentary, stating, “I’m a competitor. Obviously, he’s a competitor. So sometimes those things happen.” Thibodeau, confirming the argument, called it a “passionate moment.”

Despite the loss, the Knicks showed promising defensive efforts, particularly from Miles McBride, who shadowed Curry effectively, limiting him to 28 points on 8-of-20 shooting. “He plays a lot bigger than his size. You can do a bit more switching with him,” Thibodeau noted, highlighting McBride’s contribution.

As the season progresses, the Knicks look to build cohesiveness in the wake of injuries. “We’re learning,” Thibodeau reiterated, emphasizing the need for collective effort to navigate the challenges ahead.