Warriors Vs. Knicks Final Score: Golden State Uses Its Defense In 92-78 Win

Mark Jackson wanted defense and that's exactly what he got on Wednesday night as his Golden State Warriors locked down the New York Knicks in a 92-78 win on Wednesday night. The Warriors struggled throughout the first half, but hung close thanks to a strong defensive effort that got better as the game wore on. After hold the Knicks to 21 points in the third quarter, Golden State doubled them up in the fourth, closing the game strong while outscoring New York 28-14 over the final 12 minutes.

Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony struggled from the field, connecting on just eight of 27 shots. As a team, the Knicks shot an even 40 percent from the field, including a 4-of-21 effort from beyond the arc. Golden State also came up with 12 steals, accounting for the bulk of the Knicks' 15 turnovers.

Monta Ellis led the way for the Warriors, scoring a game-high 22 points in the win. Brandon Rush came off the bench to add 19 points while also giving the Warriors a lift in the third quarter. Adrian Wojnarowski reminds us of what may have been motivating Rush on Wednesday night:

With the way Brandon Rush is attacking the Knicks, you'd almost think one of their scouts blew out his knee in an illegal predraft workout.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) December 29, 2011

Overall, Jackson has to be pleased with his team's effort, along with the results of the past two games -- wins over the Bulls and Knicks in the past three days. The Warriors improve to 2-1 with the win, while the Knicks fall to 1-1.