It’s a common refrain in sports that “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” but that isn’t always true unless the finish is strong enough to completely overcome a poor start, which was exactly the case for the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

The Warriors overcame a miserable opening act to cruise past the New York Knicks 126-113, proving that resilience and timely adjustments can turn a game around, even after a first quarter that had fans at Chase Center biting their nails.

It was a tale of two halves for Golden State, except the second “half” began late in the first quarter, as the team looked sluggish out of the gates, committing turnovers and struggling to find rhythm against a Knicks squad playing without All-Star guard Jalen Brunson.

Steph Curry had an uncharacteristically rough start with two early turnovers, and following a 3-3 tie, the Knicks went on a 10-0 run, quickly seizing control of the game and putting the Warriors in an early hole that looked difficult to climb out of.

The Knicks dominated in the early going, crushing Golden State in nearly every phase of the game, displaying superior speed, energy, and physicality, while controlling the paint and lighting up the Warriors from beyond the arc, leaving the home crowd nervous.

The only solace for the Warriors was Moses Moody, who started 3-for-3 from three-point range and scored nine of Golden State’s first 11 points, though the team trailed 26-11 at that point, underscoring just how much work remained to be done.

Things began to shift late in the opening quarter, as the Warriors forced Karl-Anthony Towns into foul trouble, creating opportunities to regain momentum and gradually turning the tide in their favor through smart adjustments and a strong performance from the second unit.

The veteran bench, led by Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton, alongside Jimmy Butler III playing a hybrid starter/bench role, fueled a late 16-4 run to close the quarter, cutting the deficit from 17 points to just 35-30 at the end of the frame.

Butler, in particular, took over in crunch time, orchestrating a 7-0 stretch almost single-handedly, demonstrating why he has become a key component for Golden State this season and showing poise in pressure moments to keep the team in striking distance.

To fully regain control, the Warriors had to activate their defensive intensity, a trademark that has carried them over the past month, and in the second quarter, they locked in, forcing the Knicks into stagnant isolation plays rather than allowing them to execute their free-flowing offense.

Suddenly, the energy shifted entirely in Golden State’s favor, with the Warriors outhustling the Knicks, running the floor effectively, and turning Chase Center into a buzzing arena, a stark contrast to the quiet, tense environment in the opening quarter.

At 5:55 in the second quarter, Melton drained a three-pointer that gave the Warriors their first lead of the night, signaling a momentum swing that they would maintain throughout the remainder of the game, backed by sharp defensive rotations and bench contributions.

The score remained tight for the rest of the quarter, as the teams exchanged highlight-reel possessions and thrilling baskets, providing fans with an entertaining back-and-forth battle before halftime, while Brandin Podziemski contributed a series of spectacular buckets that helped keep the Warriors in front.

Defensively, the Warriors were a night-and-day improvement, limiting Knicks’ efficiency compared to the first quarter, and thanks to their intensity and discipline, Golden State led 62-59 at halftime despite Curry shooting 0-for-4 from three-point range, showing the team’s collective resilience.

Curry, as expected, found his rhythm in the second half, scoring efficiently and providing the leadership needed to sustain the team’s momentum, while the Knicks managed a brief rally before the Warriors went on a 13-2 run, pushing their lead into double digits and forcing a timeout.

The Knicks, though fighting hard, struggled to match Golden State’s defensive effort, especially without Brunson, as the Warriors maintained control throughout the third quarter, with Butler continuing to dominate and secure critical stops, rebounds, and transition opportunities.

By the end of the third quarter, Butler had essentially taken over the game, putting Golden State in a 99-87 lead and demonstrating his value as the team’s most versatile scorer and defensive presence, capable of influencing every aspect of the game.

The fourth quarter was slowed by stoppages and reviews, including flagrant foul assessments on Draymond Green and Karl-Anthony Towns, which disrupted the rhythm and created tense moments for the Warriors, but the team remained composed and ready to capitalize once normal play resumed.

Towns picking up his fourth and fifth fouls early in the quarter allowed Golden State to assume total control, as Curry turned on his offensive display, hitting key shots and effectively breaking the Knicks’ resistance while keeping the lead secure.

The Knicks offense devolved into isolated plays by OG Anunoby, who performed admirably but couldn’t overcome the Warriors firing on all cylinders, supported by excellent defensive rotations, timely rebounding, and smart bench contributions that widened the gap in efficiency.

Final statistics highlighted the standout performances: Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 32 points, shooting 14-for-22, adding eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and no turnovers, demonstrating a dominant all-around performance that anchored the Warriors’ victory.

Curry bounced back with 27 points on 10-for-17 shooting, distributing seven assists and providing the veteran leadership that stabilized the offense, while Moody had one of his best scoring nights, finishing with 21 points, including 7-for-9 from three-point range.

The Warriors’ bench was a decisive factor, outscoring New York’s 35-20, with Podziemski contributing 19 points, five rebounds, and two steals on near-perfect shooting, and Horford and Melton providing impactful defense and playmaking that kept the team balanced.

For the Knicks, Anunoby and Miles McBride led with 25 points each, and Towns finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough against Golden State’s collective effort and efficient shooting from beyond the arc, as the Warriors connected on 44.4% of their threes compared to 36.8% for New York.

With the win, the Warriors improve to 23-19, gaining ground in the standings and creating distance from the teams below them while remaining focused on climbing past the No. 8 seed, aiming for favorable positioning in the Play-In or playoffs.

Golden State gets a day off on Friday before hosting the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT, a contest that overlaps with the San Francisco 49ers Divisional Round game, and continues a six-game home stand during which the Warriors are 4-1 through the first five games.