Early struggles continue for Warriors and Cavaliers
NBA champions Golden State Warriors and beaten finalists Cleveland again tumbled yesterday as early season struggles continued for the league’s powerhouse teams.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis combined for 66 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 114- 95 victory over the Cavs in Cleveland.
In Oakland, California, the Warriors coughed up 25 turn- overs in a 115- 107 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
The Knicks notched their first win over the Cavs since October 30, 2014, ending a 10game losing streak against the Cavs, tipped before the season to be headed to the finals for a fourth time.
Hardaway scored 34 points and Porzingis added 32 with 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who handed LeBron James and the Cavaliers a eight days.
“Tonight’s loss and the last couple are unacceptable, and the only way we’re going to be able to get out of it is to put the work in,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. “And we’re going to do that.”
While the Cavs have struggled with slow starts, the Warriors have been finding it hard to hold on to leads. fourth defeat in
Golden State squandered a 14- point third- quarter advantage over Detroit, who shot just 46.2 per cent from the field but benefited from the Warriors’ sloppy play.
The Warriors connected on a blistering 61.4 per cent of their shots over the first three periods, but trailed 101- 88 at 6: 25 of the fourth quarter.
The Warriors were down 108- 105 with 1: 55 to play when they got a steal from Stephen Curry, but he missed the contested layup and then a threepoint attempt.
Tobias Harris added a three- pointer for Detroit, before Curry lost the ball to Avery Bradley, whose layup sealed it for the Pistons.
“At some point, the ball just has to matter,” said exasperated Golden State coach Steve Kerr.