Durant scores 41 at MSG, Warriors beat Knicks 128-100
NEW YORK (AP) If this is what Kevin Durant can do at Madison Square Garden, no wonder Knicks fans are so desperate for him to come to New York.
This kind of show was worth seeing more than once a season.
Durant scored 25 of his 41 points in Golden State's ruthless fourth-quarter clinic, and the Warriors beat the Knicks 128-100 on Friday night.
Durant was the center of attention leading into the game and then the star of it in front of fans who hope he will consider the Knicks if he becomes a free agent this summer.
He's not interested in the off-the-court stuff right now, but he loved what happened on the floor in his 10-for-13 final quarter.
''It feels like when you catch every green light when you're going somewhere,'' Durant said.
New York led by three after three quarters before Durant and the Warriors starting hitting from all over the floor, making 19 of 26 shots - and things went so well that on a rare long-range miss by Durant, the ball bounced all the way out behind the arc to a wide-open Stephen Curry, who made the 3-pointer.
Asked what changed in the fourth quarter, when Golden State outscored New York 47-16, Knicks coach David Fizdale said: ''Kevin Durant.''
Curry added 29 points and six 3-pointers, giving him at least five in every game this season. But on the floor where he scored a career-best 54 points in 2013, his performance seemed almost quiet because of Durant.
He finished 17 of 24 from the floor, including 5 of 9 from behind the arc - where one of the misses was a one-legged attempt.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 24 points for the Knicks, who have dropped five in a row after a season-opening victory over Atlanta.
Fizdale changed up his starting lineup, going with Hardaway, Frank Ntilikina, Noah Vonleh, Damyean Dotson and rookie Mitchell Robinson, and the group provided a 16-10 lead.
But it was quickly wiped out mostly by Curry, who made his first five shots, with three of them behind the arc.
Durant drew plenty of notice upon his arrival and a loud ovation when he was announced with the starting lineups. He can become a free agent after this season and Knicks fans hope he can speed up their rebuilding. A billboard urging him to come to New York popped up on a building near Madison Square Garden this week.
Curry said it's not a distraction, saying the Warriors have faced greater concerns during their run of three championships in the last four years.
''The way he's handled it, obviously letting his play speak for itself and not getting too wrapped up or involved in it, understanding we've got seven more months of this,'' Curry said. ''So we know how to keep distractions out of our locker room and just play basketball and enjoy what we do.''
TIP-INS
Warriors: Golden State visits the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. It's the first time the Warriors have played the two New York teams on the same trip. ... Draymond Green scored 18 points.
Knicks: New York has lost the last nine meetings. ... Ntilikina scored 17 points and Trey Burke, the former starting point guard, had 15.
BYE, BOOGIE
DeMarcus Cousins isn't even playing for Golden State yet and he's been ejected from a game.
The volatile center was sitting in street clothes for arguing with referee Scott Foster in the first quarter.
As play resumed following a timeout with 2:28 remaining in the first quarter, it was announced that Cousins had been assessed a technical foul during the break, and then subsequently ejected.
Cousins is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He took part in his first practice with the Warriors on Thursday, but there is still no timetable for his return to action.
FEAR FACTOR
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who has been outspoken about President Donald Trump and gun violence, was asked if was concerned for his own safety in the wake of the mail bombs sent to prominent Democrats.
''A little bit, yeah,'' Kerr said. ''I think we should all be concerned. No matter who you are you need to be concerned, not just of the bombs, but just somebody shooting you,'' adding it was a ''dangerous time to be alive right now'' in the U.S.
Kerr's father, Malcolm Kerr, a professor who served as president of the American University of Beirut, was shot and killed outside his office in the war-torn Lebanese capital in 1984.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Visit Brooklyn on Sunday.
Knicks: Host Brooklyn on Monday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:44 | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. made finger-roll layup | 0-2 | |
11:30 | +2 | Kevin Durant made jump shot, assist by Stephen Curry | 2-2 | |
11:10 | Offensive foul on Frank Ntilikina | |||
11:10 | Personal foul on Frank Ntilikina | |||
11:00 | Kevin Durant missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:59 | Team rebound | |||
10:50 | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Noah Vonleh | 2-5 | |
10:35 | Out of bounds turnover on Stephen Curry | |||
10:20 | +3 | Frank Ntilikina made 3-pt. jump shot | 2-8 | |
9:51 | Tim Hardaway Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:50 | Team rebound | |||
9:38 | +2 | Kevin Durant made jump shot, assist by Damian Jones | 6-8 | |
9:22 | Tim Hardaway Jr. missed driving layup, blocked by Damian Jones | |||
9:20 | Offensive rebound by Noah Vonleh | |||
9:01 | +2 | Stephen Curry made layup, assist by Draymond Green | 8-10 | |
8:45 | Frank Ntilikina missed finger-roll layup, blocked by Damian Jones | |||
8:44 | Team rebound | |||
8:38 | Lost ball turnover on Tim Hardaway Jr., stolen by Damian Jones | |||
8:35 | +2 | Kevin Durant made dunk, assist by Damian Jones | 10-10 | |
8:21 | Personal foul on Draymond Green | |||
8:14 | +3 | Noah Vonleh made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tim Hardaway Jr. | 10-13 | |
8:08 | Shooting foul on Damyean Dotson | |||
8:08 | Team rebound | |||
8:06 | Defensive rebound by Noah Vonleh | |||
7:48 | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot | 10-16 | |
7:35 | Klay Thompson missed floating jump shot | |||
7:33 | Defensive rebound by Damyean Dotson | |||
7:20 | Offensive rebound by Mitchell Robinson | |||
7:13 | Defensive rebound by Kevin Durant | |||
6:59 | Klay Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:56 | Defensive rebound by Noah Vonleh | |||
6:48 | Offensive rebound by Mitchell Robinson | |||
6:45 | Mitchell Robinson missed layup | |||
6:43 | Defensive rebound by Klay Thompson | |||
6:38 | +2 | Klay Thompson made jump shot | 12-16 | |
6:18 | Out of bounds turnover on Damyean Dotson | |||
6:06 | Out of bounds turnover on Klay Thompson | |||
5:50 | Frank Ntilikina missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:48 | Defensive rebound by Kevin Durant | |||
5:39 | Lost ball turnover on Kevin Durant, stolen by Noah Vonleh | |||
5:35 | Offensive foul on Noah Vonleh | |||
5:25 | +3 | Stephen Curry made 3-pt. jump shot | 15-16 | |
5:10 | Out of bounds turnover on Mitchell Robinson | |||
4:56 | +3 | Stephen Curry made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kevon Looney | 18-16 | |
4:41 | Personal foul on Stephen Curry | |||
4:33 | Tim Hardaway Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:31 | Offensive rebound by Damyean Dotson | |||
4:28 | Damyean Dotson missed layup | |||
4:26 | Defensive rebound by Jordan Bell | |||
4:20 | +2 | Stephen Curry made driving layup | 20-16 | |
3:58 | Offensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
3:55 | Enes Kanter missed fade-away jump shot | |||
3:52 | Defensive rebound by Kevin Durant | |||
3:49 | +3 | Stephen Curry made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kevin Durant | 23-16 | |
3:26 | Damyean Dotson missed driving layup, blocked by Andre Iguodala | |||
3:23 | Defensive rebound by Stephen Curry | |||
3:19 | Stephen Curry missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:17 | Defensive rebound by Frank Ntilikina | |||
2:57 | Mario Hezonja missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:54 | Defensive rebound by Andre Iguodala | |||
2:33 | +2 | Mario Hezonja made finger-roll layup | 23-18 | |
2:28 | Unsportsmanlike technical foul | |||
2:28 | +1 | Tim Hardaway Jr. made free throw | 23-19 | |
2:18 | Andre Iguodala missed jump shot | |||
2:16 | Defensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
2:06 | Bad pass turnover on Trey Burke, stolen by Jordan Bell | |||
2:02 | Stephen Curry missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:00 | Defensive rebound by Mario Hezonja | |||
1:39 | Tim Hardaway Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:37 | Defensive rebound by Jordan Bell | |||
1:26 | Shooting foul on Enes Kanter | |||
1:26 | +1 | Kevon Looney made 1st of 2 free throws | 24-19 | |
1:26 | +1 | Kevon Looney made 2nd of 2 free throws | 25-19 | |
1:10 | +2 | Lance Thomas made jump shot, assist by Trey Burke | 25-21 | |
0:47 | 3-second violation turnover on Jordan Bell | |||
0:29 | Offensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
0:29 | +2 | Enes Kanter made dunk | 25-23 | |
0:06 | Shaun Livingston missed jump shot | |||
0:04 | Defensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
0:00 | +2 | Trey Burke made layup | 25-25 |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:42 | Klay Thompson missed jump shot | |||
11:40 | Defensive rebound by Trey Burke | |||
11:18 | Klay Thompson missed turnaround jump shot | |||
11:16 | Defensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
11:13 | Personal foul on Jonas Jerebko | |||
11:00 | Bad pass turnover on Enes Kanter, stolen by Shaun Livingston | |||
10:56 | +2 | Klay Thompson made dunk, assist by Shaun Livingston | 27-27 | |
10:36 | Allonzo Trier missed driving layup | |||
10:35 | Team rebound | |||
10:35 | Personal foul on Jonas Jerebko | |||
10:26 | Mario Hezonja missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:23 | Defensive rebound by Shaun Livingston | |||
10:11 | Klay Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:09 | Defensive rebound by Lance Thomas | |||
9:54 | +2 | Enes Kanter made driving dunk, assist by Mario Hezonja | 27-29 | |
9:36 | +2 | Klay Thompson made layup, assist by Draymond Green | 29-29 | |
9:19 | +2 | Mario Hezonja made layup, assist by Enes Kanter | 29-31 | |
9:11 | Personal foul on Trey Burke | |||
9:04 | Klay Thompson missed jump shot | |||
9:02 | Defensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
8:39 | Defensive rebound by Mario Hezonja | |||
8:28 | +2 | Andre Iguodala made dunk, assist by Draymond Green | 31-31 | |
8:03 | Defensive rebound by Klay Thompson | |||
7:56 | +2 | Draymond Green made jump shot, assist by Klay Thompson | 33-31 | |
7:36 | Allonzo Trier missed layup | |||
7:35 | Defensive rebound by Klay Thompson | |||
7:24 | +2 | Klay Thompson made layup | 35-31 | |
7:09 | +2 | Enes Kanter made dunk | 35-33 | |
6:51 | +3 | Draymond Green made 3-pt. jump shot | 38-33 | |
6:38 | Trey Burke missed layup | |||
6:35 | Defensive rebound by Jonas Jerebko | |||
6:25 | +2 | Jonas Jerebko made jump shot, assist by Klay Thompson | 40-33 | |
5:56 | Discontinue dribble turnover on Kevin Durant | |||
5:44 | Traveling violation turnover on Frank Ntilikina | |||
5:38 | Personal foul on Lance Thomas | |||
5:34 | Personal foul on Frank Ntilikina | |||
5:26 | Defensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
5:07 | Damyean Dotson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:05 | Offensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
5:00 | Out of bounds turnover on Enes Kanter | |||
4:56 | +2 | Kevin Durant made floating jump shot | 42-33 | |
4:56 | +1 | Kevin Durant made free throw | 43-33 | |
4:39 | Personal foul on Jonas Jerebko | |||
4:32 | +3 | Frank Ntilikina made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tim Hardaway Jr. | 43-36 | |
4:10 | Damyean Dotson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:07 | Defensive rebound by Andre Iguodala | |||
4:00 | Offensive rebound by Kevin Durant | |||
3:57 | Defensive rebound by Damyean Dotson | |||
3:43 | Tim Hardaway Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:43 | Team rebound | |||
3:38 | Klay Thompson missed jump shot | |||
3:36 | Team rebound | |||
3:21 | Damyean Dotson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:19 | Defensive rebound by Kevin Durant | |||
3:14 | +2 | Kevin Durant made finger-roll layup | 48-36 | |
3:07 | Unsportsmanlike technical foul | |||
3:07 | +1 | Stephen Curry made free throw | 49-36 | |
3:01 | Personal foul on Klay Thompson | |||
2:49 | +2 | Frank Ntilikina made turnaround jump shot | 49-38 | |
2:31 | Stephen Curry missed finger-roll layup, blocked by Noah Vonleh | |||
2:29 | Defensive rebound by Damyean Dotson | |||
2:24 | Team rebound | |||
2:20 | Shooting foul on Stephen Curry | |||
2:20 | +1 | Frank Ntilikina made 1st of 2 free throws | 49-39 | |
2:20 | +1 | Frank Ntilikina made 2nd of 2 free throws | 49-40 | |
1:59 | +2 | Kevin Durant made jump shot | 51-40 | |
1:45 | Shooting foul on Andre Iguodala | |||
1:45 | +1 | Noah Vonleh made 1st of 2 free throws | 51-41 | |
1:45 | +1 | Noah Vonleh made 2nd of 2 free throws | 51-42 | |
1:26 | Kevin Durant missed jump shot | |||
1:22 | Defensive rebound by Noah Vonleh | |||
1:07 | Bad pass turnover on Draymond Green, stolen by Mitchell Robinson | |||
1:02 | Tim Hardaway Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:00 | Personal foul on Noah Vonleh | |||
1:00 | +1 | Draymond Green made 1st of 2 free throws | 52-45 | |
1:00 | +1 | Draymond Green made 2nd of 2 free throws | 53-45 | |
0:52 | +3 | Frank Ntilikina made 3-pt. jump shot | 53-48 | |
0:29 | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot | 53-51 | |
0:09 | Klay Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:07 | Defensive rebound by Damyean Dotson | |||
0:00 | End of period |