Barrett scores 28, Knicks beat Warriors for 3rd straight win

RJ Barrett had a career-high 28 points and the New York Knicks matched their longest winning streak of the season at three games by beating the Golden State Warriors 119-104 on Thursday night.

Stephen Curry scored 30 points with five 3-pointers but shot just 9 of 19 as Golden State lacked the same energy it had in a lopsided win against the Spurs a night earlier — and it certainly didn't help that Draymond Green got ejected late in the first half on a disputed technical when he appeared to be yelling at a teammate. The game featured a combined 55 personal fouls.

Julius Randle added 16 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists to help New York build some much-needed momentum during this successful stretch to reach .500 (8-8) following a five-game losing streak.

New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett (9) hangs from the rim after dunking next to Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

Alec Burks returned from a 12-game absence with a sprained left ankle to finish with 11 points and six rebounds for the Knicks. Burks spent 48 games with Golden State last season before a trade to the 76ers. When he entered at the 4:49 mark of the first quarter, Warriors public-address announcer Matt Pitman offered, “Welcome back to the Bay, Alec Burks!”

Andrew Wiggins had 17 points and nine rebounds, and rookie James Wiseman contributed 15 points and eight boards for the cold-shooting Warriors, who made just 38.8% of their shots and went 9 for 38 on 3-pointers.

New York shot 7 of 11 from the floor to start the game, making four of its initial five 3s to build a quick 20-12 lead.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after being called for a technical foul during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. Green was ejected from the game. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

GREEN FACTOR

Golden State dropped to 6-5 with its current starting lineup since Green returned from a foot injury. But given that Green was tossed with 1:04 left in the first half after his second technical foul, it didn't seem like a game he played — though he had three points and eight assists.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr doesn't even think Green is “in his best shape yet.”

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against the New York Knicks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

“We were a mess without him. I think Draymond is realizing how important he is to this team,” Kerr said.

TIP-INS

Knicks: Frank Ntilikina, limited to four games so far and missing his 12th straight with a sprained right knee, is still listed as day to day by coach Tom Thibodeau, who said, "doing a little more each day, so we’ll see how it goes.” ... New York snapped a 10-game skid in the series and five-game losing streak on the Warriors' home floor with a 124-122 win in its last visit to the Bay Area on Dec. 11, 2019. ... G Austin Rivers sat out with a sore right Achilles tendon.

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) defends against a shot by Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

Warriors: Eric Paschall scored 12 and reached 1,000 points in his 74th career game, the fewest number of games by a Golden State second-round pick in the modern draft era, since 1966, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Gilbert Arenas did so in 79 games. ... The Warriors lost at home to the Knicks for just the fourth time in the last 19 games and fifth time in 22 matchups overall.

UP NEXT

Knicks: At the Sacramento Kings on Friday to continue a four-game road trip out West.

New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett (9) celebrates with teammates after the Knicks defeated the Golden State Warriors in an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

Warriors: At Utah on Saturday night having lost the last four to the Jazz, three in Utah, and eight of 10 overall.

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New York Knicks guard Elfrid Payton, left, drives against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, bottom, passes the ball as New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett, top right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

Injured Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, right, walks next to guard Stephen Curry during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman, right, shoots over New York Knicks guard Alec Burks (18) and center Nerlens Noel (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr reacts during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)

New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau reacts during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Chiu)