Knicks at Warriors Preview: How, Who to Watch in Potential Play-In Clincher
The New York Knicks can strike some form of postseason gold at Golden State on Monday night.
One win away from clinching at least a Play-In spot in the Eastern Conference postseason, the Knicks face the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center, a game that will mark starting shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo's first visit to the Bay Area since he signed with the New York over the offseason. The Knicks won't be at full strength for Monday's interconference tilt: Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson remain out with their indefinite ailments while OG Anunoby's return has been cut short after three games due to maintenance for the elbow injury that kept him out of 18.
The Knicks have won three in a row thanks to sterling defense and lights-out offense from newly-reminted Eastern Conference Player of the Week Jalen Brunson. Both sides will be looking to extend immaculate streaks on Monday: Brunson will seek to become just the third Knick to score at least 40 in three straight games (joining Carmelo Anthony and Bernard King) while New York as a whole will look to hold a sixth straight opponent to under 100 points for the first time since March 2013.
Golden State is working off the momentum of a nationally-televised win over the Los Angeles Lakers, giving them temporary homecourt advantage in their potential Western Conference Play-In match, as the two sides have been swapping the ninth and tenth seeds. The Warriors previously earned a 110-99 victory over the Knicks on Feb. 29, one paced by a 31-point, 11-rebound double-double from Stephen Curry. Golden State will go for its first sweep of the Knicks since the 2018-19 season, as the two sides have split each of the last three couples.
What: New York Knicks (40-27) @ Golden State Warriors (35-31)
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
When/Watch: Monday, 10 p.m. ET, MSG/ESPN
Who's Favored: GSW -6.5
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Keep An Eye On: Donte DiVincenzo
Perhaps some hoe cooking could help DiVincenzo find a rhythm for the stretch run: the former Warrior has been everything the Knicks could've asked for and then some but he has struggled from the field over the past six games, shooting less than 32 percent from the floor since taking over a Brunson-less win over Cleveland on March 3. While DiVincenzo spent but one season in the Bay Area, Curry's influence left an undeniable impact on him. With Anunoby's departure hinting at a potential shootout, the Knicks could very much use a Curry imitation come Monday night.
Warrior to Watch: Draymond Green
The modern Knicks' brand of physicality has made them famous and there's no more physical player ... for better or worse ... than Green. New York has made strides with some of their own tough tendencies: Isaiah Hartenstein and Precious Achuiwa have risen to the occasion in the rebounding game while Jalen Brunson has attracted plenty of whistles (and foul shot opportunities) thanks to his ability to draw charges. With Golden State trying to close in on its own playoff spot, Green will be relied upon to shift any line of momentum over these final hours.
They Said It
“Everybody had been there for so long. Me, I’m just coming in. I was trying to keep my head down. I was trying to spread as much positivity as I could and I still talk to everybody. I talk to Draymond (Green). I talk to Jordan (Poole). It is what it is. It happened.”-DiVincenzo on his return to Golden State (h/t Stefan Bondy, New York Post)
Prediction
The Knicks are fully capable of sweeping this trip, but losing Anunoby, even if it's only meant to be a short while, is quite a gut punch against a team so famously capable of turning scoreboards into pinball machines. New York should keep things close but a return to their shorthanded nature won't help.
