The Knicks’ offense struggled at the start of the game, but then Jalen Brunson took charge.
From that point, they never lost their momentum.
The Spurs, who had a winning streak of 11 games and appeared to be a championship contender, faced a team that had been inconsistent ever since the Knicks built a solid lead against them on New Year’s Eve.
However, the Knicks delivered a strong performance on Sunday that resembled their earlier NBA Cup victory over the Spurs, winning decisively 114-89 at Madison Square Garden. It made a statement: they can still compete with the top teams.
Brunson, after missing his first three attempts, ended the first quarter by scoring the Knicks’ last 11 points, securing a slight edge as they headed into the second quarter. This included an impressive five-point play, where he both drew a flagrant foul on Dylan Harper while shooting a three-pointer and subsequently converted two free throws, adding an and-one after regaining possession.
The Knicks kicked off the second quarter with an 11-0 run, part of a broader 19-0 stretch that ultimately left them with a 12-point lead when the Spurs called a timeout. It was the longest scoreless wave the Spurs had allowed all season. Shooting a remarkable 52.2 percent in that quarter, the Knicks went into halftime ahead by 10 points, never letting their lead slip below eight for the remainder of the game.
Mikal Bridges stepped up in the third quarter, taking over from Brunson and scoring a total of 24 points. He recorded his best shooting night of the season, finishing with 25 points—10-of-17 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range. Fourteen of those points came in the third, as the Knicks exchanged baskets with the Spurs but maintained their lead. He also had five steals, including one against Harper that led to a dunk, pushing the Knicks ahead by 18 points. Later, he intercepted a pass from De’Aaron Fox, setting up Landry Shamet for another dunk, extending the lead to 19 points and sealing the game.
This game featured one of the Knicks’ strongest defensive displays of the year. The Spurs’ total of 89 points marked their lowest output this season, which was notably six points below their previous low.
Victor Wembanyama had a standout game with 25 points, but his efforts didn’t derail the Knicks’ game plan. They initially matched him up with Karl-Anthony Towns and later switched to OG Anunoby during a key second quarter. They managed to force Wembanyama into seven turnovers, limiting the Spurs to just two points in the fourth quarter.
Overall, the Knicks held the Spurs to 41.6 percent shooting overall and 26.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Towns contributed 12 points and a double-double with 14 rebounds, five of which were offensive, despite only taking nine shots.
The Spurs’ young backcourt with Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell, plus veteran Fox, has shown it can disrupt opponents, but on this day, they posed minimal challenge to the Knicks’ guards.
On Sunday, the Knicks looked remarkably like their Cup-winning selves, offering a much-needed reminder of their potential when fully unleashed.
And Larry David was courtside, enjoying a pretty, pretty good win.
