Stephen Curry ended a shooting slump and scored 31 points to lift the Golden State Warriors to a 112-105 road victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.
Klay Thompson added 29 points to help Golden State snap their first regular-season losing streak (two games) in nearly two years.
Madison Square Garden decided to omit all sound, including music and video, during warmups and play stoppages in the first half so that fans could “experience the game in its purest form,” as a message displayed on the overhead video board during most of pre-game read.
”It felt like open gym kind of,” Thompson said.
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“It was weird,” Curry added.
Other Warriors players openly criticized the choice to remove sound in the first half.
”That was pathetic. It was ridiculous. It changed the flow of the game, it changed everything,” said Draymond Green, adding that it was ”disrespectful” to innovators of NBA in-game entertainment.
”They need to trash that, because that’s exactly what it was.”
Curry hit five 3-pointers, passing Chauncey Billups for 10th place, and added eight rebounds and six assists.
The MVP had been 4 for 31 from 3-point range during Golden State’s three-game road trip and missed six of his eight attempts in the first half.
Thompson scored a 3-pointer and two other shots during a late surge that helped the Warriors get ahead after leading by just one halfway through the fourth quarter.
Derrick Rose led the Knicks with 28 points, and Kristaps Porzingis added 24 points and 15 rebounds.
Golden State lost to Washington in the game Kevin Durant was injured (MCL sprain, knee) and followed that with a season-low 87 points Thursday in a loss to Chicago, ending their NBA-record streak of consecutive regular-season games without losing two in a row at 146.
”We’re surviving to this point,” coach Steve Kerr said. ”We obviously lost our first two games without him, so it’s good to get a win without him tonight. This is how it’s going to be for a while, so we have to get used to it.”
Matt Barnes, signed after Durant became injured, made his first start. Kerr said it was not a permanent decision. The Warriors pushed their lead over San Antonio for the NBA’s best record to 2 1/2 games. Golden State has now won six consecutive games against the Knicks.
New York’s Carmelo Anthony took just 12 shots, finishing with 15 points. Center Willy Hernangomez returned after missing two games with a sprained left ankle.
The Warriors next visit Atlanta on Monday, when the Knicks visit Orlando. That will mark the Knicks’ second trip to Orlando within a week following a 101-90 win last Wednesday.
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 23: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on January 23, 2017 in Miami, Florida.
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