Warriors instant analysis: Jimmy Butler outmuscles Knicks in chippy victory

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors were playing mere hours after one of their players asked for a trade. The Knicks were coming off a loss to hapless Sacramento the night before. Should there have been any surprise that both sides played with a hint of angst on Thursday night at Chase Center?

OK, maybe a little more than a little angst. Within a single 16-second stretch early in the fourth quarter of Golden State’s 126-113 victory, the officials initiated three separate reviews for possible flagrant fouls.

Draymond Green earned his second flagrant of the season when review showed he grabbed Karl-Anthony Towns’ ankle on a drive, while Brandin Podziemski and Towns avoided the harsh infraction.

So of course, it was a man who has a self-professed affection for confrontation who starred for the Warriors.

Jimmy Butler put up a hard-earned 32 points, eight rebounds and four assists against his old teammate-turned-enemy Towns, while Steph Curry poured in 27 points and seven assists. Moses Moody made seven 3-pointers to score 21, and Podziemski threw in 19 points of the bench.

Towns scored 17 and grabbed 20 rebounds for New York, while Mikal Bridges scored 21 and OG Anunoby scored 25.

Golden State, with an engaged and active Kuminga on the bench after he asked for a trade earlier in the day, was playing the fifth of an eight-game homestand but came out flat.

The Knicks were playing the final leg of a four-game road trip, and were without their best player Jalen Brunson (28.2 points per game) and backup center Mitchell Robinson. Miles McBride scored 25 starting in Brunson’s place. 

New York jumped out to a 33-19 lead midway through the first quarter, using their speed advantage to create a plethora of open shots. 

Golden State did not stay dormant. Butler scored nine points in the quarter and led a second unit that cut the deficit to just 35-30 by the end of the quarter. The teams then traded leads for the majority of the second quarter and the Warriors went to halftime up 62-59. 

A great stretch from the starting five to begin the third quarter (more on that later) was a large reason Golden State led 99-87 after three quarters.

The Warriors (23-19), after many replay reviews, finished off their fourth win in five games. They will greet Curry’s hometown team, the Charlotte Hornets, on Saturday.

Same starting lineup, interesting results

When Quinten Post checked out with 6:55 left in the first quarter, the Warriors were down 21-11 as the Knicks drove into the paint and sprayed passes to open shooters at will. 

This was nothing new for the starting five, which over the last month has put up an abysmal minus-1.3 net rating (113.5 offensive rating and 114.8 defensive rating). The Warriors’ rally began once Post and Moody were phased out for Melton and Gary Payton II. 

The second half was a different story. The Warriors were up 81-72 when Post exited for Al Horford, the team outscoring the Knicks 19-13 during the stretch.

Melton-mania

De’Anthony Melton, minutes restriction be darned as he returns to 100% after ACL rehab, has quietly become the Warriors’ top scorer off the bench. He entered the night having scored in double figures in four consecutive games, including efforts of 22 and 23 points despite only playing around 25 minutes a night.

The combo guard has also become a fixture in Steve Kerr’s crunch time lineup as the team’s designated point of attack defender next to Steph Curry.

He was quieter against New York on the scoresheet (five points) but contributed in other ways, putting up two blocks. He was a stellar plus-17 in 23 minutes played.

Santos injured

Third-year wing Gui Santos has been a source of energy for the Warriors, often sparking the team with offensive boards and other effort plays that do not show up on the stat sheet. 

But with 2:21 left in the first quarter, the Brazilian fan favorite crumpled to the floor after a collision with Josh Hart near midcourt. Santos appeared to roll his ankle. 

He had to be helped off the court by team doctor Rick Celebrini, and Santos went straight back to the Warriors locker room. He was later diagnosed with a left ankle sprain.