SAN ANTONIO — Knicks Struggle in Nail-Biting Loss

The start of the new year brought some unexpected disappointments for the Knicks.

Despite Victor Wembanyama being out with what seemed like a hyperextended knee, the Knicks found themselves down by more than ten points in the fourth quarter, ultimately losing to the Spurs 134-132 on Wednesday night.

Jalen Brunson had two crucial three-point attempts in the final seconds that just didn’t land, including one that hit the rim with roughly 15 seconds left. That was New York’s last shot at snatching a dramatic win, but a final jump ball involving Kevin McCuller Jr. seven seconds prior marked the end of their chances.

Julien Champagnie, a former St. John’s standout, delivered a stunning performance for the Spurs, scoring a game-high 36 points and making 11-of-17 from three-point range.

Coach Mike Brown didn’t mince words about the game, saying, “They outplayed us in a lot of ways. The rest of the team treated us badly. We had a tough time today.”

Wembanyama had added 31 points before his injury but returned to the bench to witness a defensive collapse from the Knicks.

The Knicks (23-10) entered with a perfect record (19-0) when leading after the third quarter, but fell to 19-1 with this loss.

“We just weren’t physical enough,” Brown expressed. “We’re doing it without fouling, but we needed to get better. I don’t know if we’re tired or what, but we couldn’t sustain defensive effort for 48 minutes. If we can’t handle that, it’s going to be a long year for us.”

Brunson managed to score 29 points, though his shooting was less than stellar at 10 of 24. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out in just 33 minutes but still made 20 points. Offensively, the Knicks shot 48 percent from the floor and 42.3 percent from three — which should have been enough.

But the real issue? Defense. Particularly against Champagnie.

“He was hitting shots like crazy,” said Brown. “We didn’t respect him, failing to pick him up in transition. I was disappointed in our defense.”

Admittedly, the Knicks had their share of obstacles. They were nearing the end of a tough stretch of games, likely fatigued from weeks on the road. Plus, they were without key players like Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson, leaving rookie Mohamed Diawara in a starting role.

The Spurs (24-9), who had suffered recent back-to-back losses, approached the game fueled by their prior defeat to the Knicks in the NBA Cup Finals.

“They remember what happened in the cup game,” Brown noted, indicating that the Spurs were likely extra motivated.

It felt as if the Knicks were in a rut, struggling defensively even after a solid stretch where they won 15 of 18 games and clinched an NBA Cup title.

During his first public appearance since the loss, Brown remained optimistic about the Knicks’ prospects. “We came here wanting to win,” he said. “On paper, we have a chance to win it all.”

However, he acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly on defense. In a sport where every detail matters, he stressed that they couldn’t afford a lax mentality.

As the game progressed, it looked as if the Knicks were slipping away from a win, particularly late in the third quarter when they had a 21-5 advantage. Brunson began hitting shots, leading New York on an 11-0 run to take a 102-93 lead into the final quarter.

In the past, these moments often led to victory.

Until they faced the Spurs on New Year’s Eve.

“Sometimes it seems like we think, ‘Okay, we’ll win in the end,'” Brown reflected. “But you need to maintain defensive pressure for all 48 minutes.”