NEW YORK (AP) Madison Square Garden had just about 2,000 fans, far less than would normally pack the space when Stephen Curry and the Warriors come to town.
But in New York, even a small crowd can make a big noise – until Curry put it down.
Curry scored 37 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 114-106 victory over the New York Knicks Tuesday night in the first game of the season with fans at the field.
” Some fans were heckling, which was awful, and Draymond (Green) and I were talking about it: There’s no better feeling – I don’t care if it’s 19,000 or 2,500 or whatever what it is – you love to harass a road crowd, ” Curry said. ” So that was an interesting experience considering there haven’t been a lot of fans this year and it makes a big difference. ”
Curry, who has a 50-point and three-pointer at MSG, returned from a one-game absence to leave the 3-point tie 3-0 with 3:38 left. He scored 26 points in the second half and scored six rebounds and six assists against one of the NBA’s best defensive teams.
” So they make it tough, but Steph found a way to score, ” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ” It wasn’t easy but he found a way and made great scenes and created a lot of offense for us. ”
Curry’s performance in the first NBA game at Madison Square Garden came with fans since the Knicks beat Detroit on March 8, days before the season was canceled due to the coronavirus’s imminent start. pumping New York.
Julius Randle went from the top of his first All-Star selection to the low level of getting out in the final seconds after building his second technical ball. He had 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Thug Gov. Andrew Cuomo allowed New York pitches to open to fans at 10% capacity, meaning about 2,000 at the Garden. They greeted the Knicks with an early high-pitched shout, but the groves were visibly familiar after their turn at a disappointing time of the third quarter, when the Warriors opened the 13-point lead.
New York got out of there and the game tied at 97 before Curry’s 3-point lead. He converted a three-point play about two minutes later to make it 105-100 and helped finish it at the false line, where it was 12 for 12.
” I felt like we got good pictures but to be honest, we weren’t getting the calls, ” Knicks guard Derrick Rose said. ” I felt like boys were going to the series and we weren’t getting the same calls and that makes it difficult when it’s so thin. ‘ ‘
Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 points and Andrew Wiggins had 16 for the Warriors, who got James Wiseman and Kevon Looney substitutes back from injuries and won for the first time after two rough losses on their four-game road trip .
Randle was the first Knicks player selected for the All-Star Game from Kristaps Porzingis in 2018. Randle spoke to the crowd before the game, but the beginning of his ideas was drowned out by fans singing ‘ MVP! MVP! ”
” It was very special. It was surreal in a sense, ” he said. ” Everything you can dream of and it seemed to come true. It was amazing, honest. ”
TIP-INS
Heroes: Wiggins celebrated his 26th birthday. … Juan Toscano-Anderson, the forward two-way contract that had started in the last 10 games did not play while the outfielders were out. … Wiseman lost 11 games with a left ankle and Looney lost 10 with a sprained left ankle.
Knicks: Elfrid Payton scored 20 points and Rose was 16. … A message from Randle ‘s mother congratulating him on his All – Star selection was played out during a period in the first half.
BACK OF THE BUILDING
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau called fans’ return ” the first step back towards normalcy. ”
” I think we all know what basketball means to this city, so we’re excited about it, ” he said before the game.
A spokesman from Knicks said the game was a great success and everyone in attendance passed their health screen.
Kerr said there was a different baby in the games the Warriors played in front of fans.
” Even just a thousand or two fans make a difference, ” he said. ” It just feels more normal, more real. The sound of the crowd is actually appearing at the right moment and not with a canister smile as in a sitcom. ”
UP Next
Heroes: Visit the Indiana Pacers Wednesday.
Knicks: Host the Kings of Sacramento Thursday.
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