I think I would be stating the obvious when I say that the New York Knicks are easily the worst team in the league right now; their -9.7  point differential seems to illustrate that point in spades. Nonetheless, the Knicks had a game to play on Friday, hosting the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden, hoping to end a 5-game losing streak. The last two contests between these squads were high-scoring tilts, with each taking a game last season.

Both teams shot very well; however, four Warriors players scored at least 22 points in leading Golden State to the relatively easy 121-107 win over New York.

The first quarter was relatively close despite the 32-26 advantage for Golden State as New York’s David Lee and Danilo Gallinari combined for 18 in the period; Corey Maggette’s basket boosted Golden State into a double-digit lead at 49-38 with 6:11 left in the period. The Warriors would go into halftime with a 14-point edge at 66-52.

The Knicks would methodically reduce their deficit as Jordan Hill scored eight points in a 5-minute span; a Wilson Chandler layup with 4 seconds left in the third quarter allowed New York to get to within six at 86-80. The Warriors would run and gun during the final 12 minutes as they outscored the Knicks 35-27 to seal the win for Golden State.

Stephen Jackson led the Warriors with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals while Kelenna Azubuike, Monta Ellis and Maggette added 22 each; C.J. Watson had a nice effort from off the bench as he chipped in 19 with 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block.

New York’s high scorer was Gallinari with 19 points (including 4 three-pointers), 10 rebounds, an assist and a block while Lee added 17 with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals; Al Harrington poured in 16 with 4 rebounds, an assist and a block while Toney Douglas pitched in 15 with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Golden State (3-5) plays again on Saturday when they visit Milwaukee to take on the Bucks while New York (1-9) look to break their losing streak as fly to Indianapolis to face the Indiana Pacers next Wednesday.