NBA Picks 3/15 – New York Knicks @ Golden State Warriors

By Thomas Quaynor for Wannamakeabet.com

The New York Knicks (42-23) conclude their five-game West Coast road trip against the Golden State Warriors (38-28) tonight on ABC. This is the second and final regular season matchup between the teams. Golden State knocked off New York 114-102 at Madison Square Garden on March 4. The Warriors used an 11-0 spurt late in the fourth quarter that turned a one-point lead into a 105-93 lead with 2:39 left to play. Warriors guard Steph Curry improved to 12-1 in his career at Madison Square Garden. Golden State is a 6.5-point favorite and the total is 229.5.  New York Knicks @ Golden State Warriors

New York is coming off a 114-113 overtime win at Portland on Wednesday night. Mikal Bridges hit a 25-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to win it for the Knicks. Bridges scored a game-high 33 points (13-21 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 5-6 FT), along with four rebounds, four assists, one steal and a block in 41 minutes. It was his highest point total since scoring 41 points on Christmas. OG Anunoby added 23 points (8-20 FG, 3-8 3Pt, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and a block over 43 minutes.

All five Knicks starters finished in double-digits. The Knicks have won two in a row and improved to 2-2 on their West Coast road trip. They’ve won four in a row at Golden State. New York’s last road loss against Golden State occurred in January 2019.

Golden State is coming off a 130-104 blowout of the visiting Sacramento Kings on Thursday night. The game had a special significance for future Hall of Famer Steph Curry as he became the first player in NBA history to hit 4,000 three-pointers. He accomplished the feat in the third quarter, and a tribute played on the big screen soon afterwards. Curry finished the game with 11 points (4-9 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five assists and a block in the blowout win. 

Draymond Green registered a team-high 23 points (8-14 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 3-4 FT), along with four rebounds, four assists, one steal and a block over 29 minutes. It was just the second time this season that Green surpassed the 20-point mark. Jonathan Kuminga added 18 points (7-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-6 FT), three rebounds and a steal in 20 minutes off the bench. Kuminga was playing in his first game since Jan. 4. He missed 31 games with a right ankle sprain. Golden State has won a season-high six in a row and 11 of their last 12. 

GAME STORYLINES: NEW YORK

For a little more than two decades (2002-2022), the once-proud New York Knicks franchise had become one of the worst in the NBA due to bad drafting, horrible trades and poor free agent signings. Everything changed in July 2022 when the Knicks signed Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million deal. The move seemed somewhat questionable initially as Brunson put up modest numbers — he averaged 16.3 ppg in his final season with Dallas — during the first four years of his career playing in the enormous shadow of superstar Luka Doncic in Dallas. Brunson quickly exceeded expectations in year one with the Knicks as he raised his average from 16.3 ppg in 2022 to 24.0 ppg in 2023. 

In his almost three full seasons with the Knicks, Jalen Brunson has turned into a clutch, All-NBA performer and almost single-handedly catapulted the Knicks into an Eastern Conference power. Brunson was an All-Star and All-NBA second team last season, and he was voted in as an All-Star starter this season. Brunson is averaging 26.3 points, 7.4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 2.3 threes per game while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 38.4 percent from three across 61 games. 

Unfortunately, Brunson suffered a right ankle sprain in a March 6 loss to the Lakers and has not played since. He’s missed the last 3 games and the Knicks are hoping he can return before the end of the month. The Knicks have gone 2-1 without Brunson but a prolonged absence without their clutch leader could be damaging for them heading into the postseason. Fourth-year guard Miles McBride has replaced Brunson as the New York’s starting point guard. He’s averaging 13 pts, 6 asts and 2.3 stls per game as a starter over the last three games. 

Shortly before the start of this season, New York sent shockwaves through the NBA world when they traded for five-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns on Oct. 2. New York gave up a package that included Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a future first-round pick. The move likely signaled a championship-or-bust mindset for a Knicks squad that had advanced to the second round of the playoffs in each of the last 2 seasons. 

The 29-year-old Karl-Anthony Towns has been fantastic in his debut season with the Knicks averaging 24.2 points, a career-high 13.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1 steal and 2.1 threes while shooting 52.4 percent from the floor and 43.2 percent from long distance through 58 games. He’s producing one of the best seasons of his 10-year career. If Brunson can return to full strength by playoff time, it will be interesting to see how far the duo can carry the Knicks in the postseason.

GAME STORYLINES: GOLDEN STATE

On July 1, 2024, the historic run of Golden State’s Big Three of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson officially came to an end when Thompson departed to sign with Dallas as a free agent. For 12 seasons (2013-2024), the trio led Golden State to extraordinary heights by winning four NBA Championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022, and winning an NBA-record 73 games during the 2015-16 season. 

The loss of Klay Thompson meant Golden State would open the season without its Big Three for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign. The Klay-less Warriors got off to a fantastic 12-3 start, but they suffered a five-game losing streak followed by a 3-12 stretch from late-November through most of December that left Golden State at 15-15 on Dec. 27. Golden State floundered around the .500 mark for the next five weeks. Golden State’s season looked to be heading nowhere fast even with Steph Curry still playing at a high level. 

Everything changed for Golden State on Feb. 7 when they acquired temperamental superstar guard Jimmy Butler III from the Miami Heat in a five-team trade. The 35-year-old, six-time All-Star wore out his welcome in Miami after becoming discontent when they refused to give him a contract extension. Butler led Miami to the NBA Finals on two occasions in 2020 and 2023, and constantly delivered herculean playoff performances. Butler inked a two-year, $111 extension to stay with Golden State through the 2026-27 season.

The addition of a content Jimmy Butler III has resurrected Golden State’s season as they’ve gone 13-2 since his arrival. Nine of the 13 wins have been by double digits. Five of the wins have been by 21 points or more. Butler is averaging 16.8 points, 5.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor in 14 games with Golden State. Butler picked up his first triple-double (15 pts, 10 rebs, 10 asts) with the Warriors in a 130-120 win against Portland on March 10.

Future Hall of Famer Steph Curry continues to play at a high level in his 16th season. The 36-year-old, 11-time All-Star is averaging a team-high 24.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 4.4 threes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor, 39.8 percent from long distance and 93.2 percent from the free throw line through 57 games. Curry was named the MVP of this year’s All-Star game for the second time in his career. Curry’s two three-pointers in Thursday’s win against Sacramento gave him 4,000 for his career which made him the NBA’s all-time leader.

Forward Jonathan Kuminga (16.8 pts, 4.9 rebs, 1.2 threes, 46.4% from 2), veteran Draymond Green (9.2 pts, 6.1 rebs, 5.8 asts. 1.4 stls, 1 blk, 1.2 threes) and sharpshooter Buddy Hield (11.6 pts, 3.3 rebs, 2.6 threes, 37.1% from 3) are all key pieces alongside Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. The 22-year-old Kuminga has tremendous upside with his length, athleticism and scoring prowess. He could soon become a formidable third option next to Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. Despite the antics, the 35-year-old Green contributes in just about every facet of the game on offense and defense.

THE PICK: WARRIORS (-6.5)

Golden State has been red-hot since they acquired Jimmy Butler. They’ve also welcomed back their young, athletic scorer Jonathan Kuminga. This is the final game of a West Coast road trip for the undermanned Knicks. I think they’ll be a little more focused on heading back East then beating the Warriors tonight…Lay the Points and take the Warriors at home.