The energy at Chase Center was a little weird last night. Maybe it was the Jonathan Kuminga trade request hitting the news cycles just hours before tip-off, or maybe it was just the looming presence of a gritty Knicks squad. Honestly, though, the 126-113 victory the Golden State Warriors pulled off felt like a vintage throwback and a glimpse into a strange future all at once.
If you just looked at the final score, you might think it was a standard blowout. It wasn’t.
Golden State had to grind for this one. They eventually broke the game open with a signature flurry, but the real story is in the individual numbers and the way Steve Kerr navigated a roster that suddenly has a Kuminga-sized hole in its chemistry.
The Splash and the Soul: Curry and Butler Lead the Way
Steph Curry is 37 years old. Let that sink in. Most guys his age are looking for a nice podcasting setup or a golf membership, but Curry is out here putting up 28.1 points per game this season. Last night, he stayed true to form.
He didn't just score; he demoralized.
When the Knicks managed to take a 63-62 lead early in the third quarter—thanks to some heavy lifting from Karl-Anthony Towns—Curry decided enough was enough. The Warriors ripped off a 16-4 run in about two and a half minutes. It was surgical. Curry finished the night as the focal point of an offense that shot a blistering 61% from the field.
But we have to talk about Jimmy Butler.
The "Jimmy Butler in a Warriors jersey" experiment is officially working. He’s averaging around 20 points a night now, and his presence on the wing gives the Warriors a secondary creator they haven’t really had since, well, you know who. Last night, Butler, Curry, and Moses Moody all cleared the 20-point mark.
It’s rare to see three different Warriors play that efficiently in the same game. Moody, specifically, looks like he’s finally jumping out of the "rotational player" box. He was hitting threes right in KAT's face and acting like it was just another Tuesday.
Digging into the warriors stats last night
The box score tells a tale of two very different strategies. The Knicks, missing Jalen Brunson due to that nagging ankle injury, tried to bludgeon the Warriors inside. Without Brunson’s 28 points per game, New York leaned heavily on Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns did his part, especially in the paint where the Warriors are notoriously soft (giving up over 50 points in the paint per game on average). But you can't trade twos for threes against this Golden State team.
- Field Goal Percentage: Warriors 61%, Knicks 48%
- Three-Pointers: Golden State remains #1 in the league, hitting nearly 16 treys per game.
- The Run: That 18-4 second-quarter burst was the cushion they needed to survive the Knicks' third-quarter surge.
Draymond Green was, predictably, the heartbeat of the defense. He isn't scoring much these days—about 8.5 points per game—but his 5.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists last night don't show how many Knicks possessions he personally dismantled. He’s the reason the Knicks’ shooting percentage stayed under 50% despite getting whatever they wanted in the restricted area early on.
The Brandin Podziemski Factor
"Podz" is becoming the ultimate "glue guy" for this second unit. He’s averaging 11.9 points and about 4.4 rebounds, but his real value is the chaos. He had a massive steal and layup late in the game that basically iced any hope of a New York comeback.
He’s playing with a level of confidence that usually takes years to develop. He doesn't care if he’s guarded by a vet; he’s going to take that floater or dive for that loose ball.
The Elephant in the Room: Jonathan Kuminga
It’s impossible to discuss the warriors stats last night without mentioning who wasn't in the primary rotation. Jonathan Kuminga's trade request, reported by Anthony Slater and Shams Charania, cast a massive shadow over the game.
Kuminga had been averaging roughly 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds, but he didn't see the floor much as the trade rumors intensified. It's a pivot point for the franchise. Do they move the young high-flyer for more veteran help to maximize Curry’s window? Or do they try to patch things up?
Based on how well Moses Moody played in his place, the front office might feel a little more comfortable exploring their options.
What the Knicks Missed
New York looked out of sorts without Jalen Brunson. Tyler Kolek tried to fill the void, and he had some bright spots—specifically a nice assist to Pacome Dadiet late—but he isn't Brunson. The Knicks' perimeter defense is currently ranked 27th in the league, and it showed. They gave up too many open looks to De'Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield.
If you give this Warriors team an inch, they take a mile. If you give them a 44% shot distribution from the arc, they take the game.
What this means for the Western Conference Standings
With this win, the Warriors move to 22-19. They’re sitting at 8th in the West, which is a dangerous spot to be. They have a +94 scoring differential on the season, which suggests they’re actually better than their record implies.
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The defense is ranked 7th or 8th depending on which metric you like, but the offense is still middle-of-the-pack (19th) because of their reliance on the long ball. When the shots fall, they look like contenders. When they don't, they look like a team that’s going to be fighting for its life in the Play-In tournament.
Honestly, the chemistry between Butler and Curry is the most encouraging sign for Dubs fans. It’s not a perfect fit yet, but they’re starting to figure out the spacing.
Actionable Insights for Warriors Fans
If you're tracking this team for the rest of the month, keep an eye on these specific trends:
- The Moody/Kuminga Swap: Watch Moses Moody's minutes. If he continues to produce at this level, Kuminga's leverage in trade talks might actually decrease, or the Warriors might feel empowered to make a move sooner rather than later.
- Paint Defense: The Warriors are still vulnerable. They play Charlotte on Saturday, and Miles Bridges is exactly the kind of player who can exploit their lack of interior size.
- The 3-Point Volume: As long as they stay at #1 in made threes per game, they have a "puncher's chance" against any elite team.
Next up, the Warriors stay at home to face the Hornets. It’s a game they should win, especially with the way they’re shooting. But in this league, and with this much drama behind the scenes, nothing is ever actually a "sure thing."
Keep your eyes on the injury report for Seth Curry (thigh) and Gui Santos (ankle), as the bench depth will be tested if the Kuminga situation results in a quick trade.
The Warriors are 15-6 at home now. Chase Center is becoming a fortress again, and if they can carry this momentum through the weekend, the middle of the West is going to get very crowded, very fast.