The New York Knicks are still in incredible shape and storm the Frodt Bank Center after beating the San Antonio Spurs 95 to 105 in a match they have won on two occasions and in which Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, 15 of them in a final quarter that was decisive for the outcome of the match.
It was a good start for the Knicks, who, with a 7-12, managed to enter the game better and commanded the first advantages. The New Yorkers were defending Wemby very well, who had no choice but to pass the ball to his teammates and trust in a success that, for the moment, was not coming (1/8 in triples after the halfway point of the first period), although it was enough to close the gap (11-14).
At that moment, Julien Champagnie completed a 15-3 run that boosted the locals: with eight points almost in a row from Dylan Harper, the Spurs, in positive form since their star went to the bench, regained control of the game (22-17) and forced Brown to stop the match. The locals, with the success of Champagnie and Harper, were unstoppable and increased the lead to eight (27-19) at the end of the first period.
In addition, a fortuitous action removed, for the moment, Jalen Brunson, star of the Knicks, from the game, who went to the locker room to evaluate an ailment in his right knee. However, they entrusted themselves to another brilliant player like Karl-Anthony Towns to try to get back into the game: the Dominican made Wembanyama suffer noticeably in defense with his physicality and quality, and he was loading the giant with fouls.
After a few minutes, Brunson returned to the hardwood after being examined, although the New Jersey point guard fell badly in an action in which he ended up scoring and hurt himself again, but he didn’t stay any further than that. Furthermore, with eight points in a row from the game generator, the New York team took the lead again (37-38). But those from the Big Apple were not taking advantage of several offensive situations with an advantage and ended up paying dearly: once again Champagnie, who shone against the Thunder in the Western Finals, gave the Spurs a half-time advantage with three triples in the final stretch of the first half (55-48).
Wembanyama, 9 points (2/8 in TC) and two rebounds at halftime, was not having his best night so far, although, fortunately for him, Harper (12) and Champagnie (15) appeared to counteract his poor contribution so far.
The defenses were imposing themselves on the attacks, something that benefited the Texas team: after a basket by the French star, the Spurs recovered the maximum of the game (59-48). The Knicks were knocked out and had no ideas on offense, and only scored two points in the first five minutes of the second half, going down by 14 points (65-51).
But, in the blink of an eye, they were within six after a 2-10 run led by Towns, whose entry once again made a difference on both sides of the court: the center, who would reach the double-double in this third period, was relentless in the paint and helped his team tie the game at 76 at the end of the third quarter.
The last period started with the success of OG Anunoby and the exchange of baskets between both teams, which maintained equality (86-86). Jalen Brunson would appear there for the first time with eight points in a row to increase the gap in favor of his team (86-94), although, with a 9-0 partial, the Spurs took the lead with just over two minutes remaining (95-94) thanks to Wermbanyama’s points. A Wemby that was not so successful in the decisive phase of the match. Yes, it was Brunson, who, after previously failing in several possessions, was going to be the one to give his team the victory: with a triple and a subsequent decisive basket in the last minute, the star, who scored 30 points, 15 of them in the last period, broke the game to continue the good streak of the Knicks (95-105) and steal the home court factor from the Spurs.