Warriors beat Knicks to snap home skid

OAKLAND, California (AP):

Steve Kerr reminded his Warriors that with everything they have gone through already, Golden State reached the season's halfway point with 27 wins so right on pace for 54. Klay Thompson is aiming higher.

"Who cares? We know how to play good basketball," said Kevin Durant, who is most concerned with how prepared the Warriors are for play-off time.

Now, a major reinforcement looks to be joining the effort by month's end: a healthy DeMarcus Cousins, one of the NBA's best big men when at full strength.

Thompson scored 43 points with seven 3-pointers, Stephen Curry had his first double-double of the season with 14 points and a season's best 14 assists, and the Golden State Warriors snapped a rare three-game home losing streak by beating the cold-shooting New York Knicks 122-95 on Tuesday night.

Cousins said after the game that he is targeting a game on January 18 at the Clippers for his return from left Achilles tendon surgery, his long-anticipated Warriors debut.

"We obviously want him coming back into a good vibe. That would be nice," Curry said, "and us feeling good about ourselves with a guy like DeMarcus Cousins back in the line-up, so that'll be fun."

KD vital

Durant added 24 points, six rebounds and six assists while Draymond Green had 11 rebounds and 10 of his team's 36 assists as the Warriors pulled away late in the first half to get back on a winning track at Oracle Arena.

Thompson hit five of his first seven shots and had 12 points by the end of the first, finishing 18 of 29 from the floor seven for 16 from long range and notching his second game with at least 40 points after going off for 52 at Chicago on October 29.

Mario Hezonja scored 19 points for the Knicks, who shot 39.8 per cent (35 of 88). Enes Kanter added 12 points and 16 rebounds.

"We grew some thick skin over this," New York coach David Fizdale said. "We took some lumps from some good teams."

The Warriors ended the first half on a 13-0 run over the final 2:47 of the first half to turn a 49-48 deficit into a 61-49 lead at the break.The skid at home matched the longest at Oracle Arena during Kerr's five seasons as coach.

Tuesday's results: Indiana 123 Cleveland 115; Philadelphia 132 Washington 115; Denver 103 Miami 9 ; Toronto 104 Atlanta 101; Minnesota 119 Oklahoma City 117,

Phoenix 115 Sacramento 111; Golden State 122 New York 95; L.A. Clippers 128 Charlotte 109.