Knicks shot against Warriors and the fourth quarter came

If Kevin Durant does not come to New York, the Knicks could still have a lot to wait. With him, the Knicks could have everything.

Despite a huge gap between one of the biggest dynasties in NBA history and the youngest league team – without its biggest star – the Knicks competed with the Warriors and even had a lead double-digit at the end of the third quarter, before being dominated by Durant and two-time defending champion, 128-100, Friday night at the Garden.

Durant was uncertain, and looked like a superstar who could win a title with any teammate, scoring 25 points out of 41 in the fourth quarter, and inflicting a fifth consecutive loss to the Knicks (1-5). .

Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Knicks with 24 points, while Frank Ntilikina tied a career high with 17 points.

When the final bell rang, the crowd could not have asked for much more, especially considering the beginning of the evening.

While Steve Kerr presented one of the best teams in basketball history, featuring four potential Hall of Fame members and two former league MVPs, David Fizdale responded with three new starters. one-year rookie who played 23 minutes in career (Mitchell Robinson), a second-year guard who made the decision of a DNP coach in the first two games of the season (Damyean Dotson) and an attacker from his fourth team in five seasons (Noah) Vonleh).

Before giving his opinion, Fizdale was asked if he was hesitant to make his youth debut – four of the 24 starters were 24 years old or younger – against the most dominant team in the league.

"Not even a little bit," said Fizdale. "I remember how stupid and irrational I was with my confidence as a child. I would have liked to be thrown there too, when I was young. We have a young and difficult group. These kids really believe in themselves. They understand where we are. They understand what we are working on. But I do not think they are afraid. I think they're pretty irrational to think they can beat the Warriors, so that's pretty cool. "

It was crazy. And it was possible.

Although the garden applauded Durant during pre-match presentations, and all the majestic Curry 3-pointers sparked dizziness, fans soon became as enamored of their young and hard-working core, alongside Ali. first.

Durant was brilliant and efficient, scoring almost every time he shot. Steph Curry (29 points) seemed able to beat the Knicks by himself, leading 13-0 by scoring 11 points in a 1:36 stretch in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Warriors led by 13. At half-time, each team had 53.

While Hardaway carried the attack early, and often, Ntilikina completely transformed the dynamics of the team, thus making his very first departure to the position of leader. Worthy of the last pick of the Phil Jackson lottery, Ntilikina showed an offensive potential that was missing in the vast majority of his young career, scoring three goals to three.

Dotson has continued his training since replacing Kevin Knox, injured, by scoring 12 points and giving the Knicks an 81-71 lead while only two minutes left in the third quarter.

For nearly 14 minutes, the Warriors were without advance. Within eight minutes of the end, the Knicks were in the lead.

Then, Durant, the New York craze for the superstar sank deeper. After opening the game by hitting 7 shots on 8, Durant sealed, hitting six of his first seven shots in the fourth quarter. During a series of unlikely shootings, Durant decides to play, then reconquers the crowd, eliciting more and more cheers from the desperate crowd to call him as such.