The vibes around Madison Square Garden have been a little tense lately. If you’ve been scrolling through your feed trying to figure out what was the score of the New York Knicks game, the answer isn't exactly what fans were hoping for during this California road trip. Last night, January 15, 2026, the New York Knicks fell to the Golden State Warriors with a final score of 126–113.
It was a late one for the East Coast crowd. Honestly, by the time the fourth quarter rolled around at the Chase Center, it felt like the Knicks were running on fumes. This 13-point loss marks a frustrating back-to-back slide after they dropped a winnable game to the Sacramento Kings just 24 hours prior.
Breaking Down the Numbers: Warriors 126, Knicks 113
The game started with a lot of promise. New York actually came out swinging, ending the first quarter up 35–30. Miles McBride was absolutely on fire from deep, and for a second, it looked like the bench might actually carry the load while Jalen Brunson dealt with some heavy defensive pressure. But the wheels started to wobble in the second quarter.
Golden State’s offense is just relentless when they get into that "flow state." By halftime, the Warriors had reclaimed a 62–59 lead. The third quarter was the real killer. The Knicks got outscored 37–28 in that frame, and you could see the defensive rotations slowing down. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges did their best to stay glued to their assignments, but the Warriors' ball movement was just too crisp.
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Key Player Stats from Last Night
- OG Anunoby: 25 points, 4 rebounds.
- Miles McBride: 25 points (including 6-of-12 from three).
- Mikal Bridges: 21 points on efficient 9-of-11 shooting.
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 17 points and a massive 20 rebounds.
- Josh Hart: 5 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds.
It's kinda weird seeing a box score where four different players score 17 or more and you still lose by double digits. But that’s the reality when the opposing team has Jimmy Butler III (who put up 32 points) and Steph Curry (27 points) operating at peak efficiency.
What Really Happened With the Knicks Defense?
Basically, the perimeter defense collapsed. While Karl-Anthony Towns was a beast on the glass—pulling down 20 boards is no small feat—the Knicks couldn't stop the Warriors from shooting 65.2% effective field goal percentage. That is a staggering number. When a team is hitting shots at that clip, you aren't winning many games, regardless of how many rebounds you grab.
The absence of Jalen Brunson’s usual scoring output was felt heavily. Even though McBride stepped up in a big way, the lack of a consistent "closer" in the final minutes allowed Golden State to keep the lead comfortable. The Knicks' bench, which has been a bit of a question mark all season, didn't offer much help outside of Jordan Clarkson’s 11 points.
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The Western Trip Hangover
This loss drops the Knicks to 25–16 on the season. They are still sitting relatively pretty in the Eastern Conference standings (3rd place), but this West Coast swing has exposed some cracks.
- The transition defense is struggling.
- The team looks tired at the end of back-to-backs.
- Perimeter closeouts are a second too slow.
The KEYWORD: What Most People Get Wrong
When people ask what was the score of the New York Knicks game, they often just look at the final tally and assume the team played poorly. That’s not quite the case here. The Knicks actually shot 46% from the field and 37% from three. In most NBA games in 2026, those numbers get you a win.
The issue was the defensive rating. The Knicks posted a defensive rating of 135.9 for this game. To put that in perspective, that is essentially like letting the opponent practice uncontested layups for 48 minutes. Coach Mike Brown—who has been praised for the team's discipline this year—definitely has some film to go over before the team flies back to New York.
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Next Steps for the Knicks
The team needs to flush this one quickly. They head back home to the Garden for a matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, January 17. If you're looking to track their recovery, keep an eye on the injury report for Jalen Brunson and see if the defensive rotations tighten up.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the First Quarter: The Knicks are 20-5 this season when leading after the first 12 minutes; they need to maintain that early energy.
- Check the Injury Report: Monitor Brunson's status as his leadership on the floor dictates the team's late-game composure.
- Adjust Defensive Expectations: Expect Mike Brown to emphasize "points in the paint" defense in the next practice, as they've been giving up too many easy looks lately.
The road trip is over, and the comforts of NYC should help, but the defensive identity needs to return if they want to stay in the hunt for a top seed.