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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The New York Knicks delivered a bruising, old-school performance Sunday night — and even Victor Wembanyama didn’t see it coming.
The Knicks dismantled the San Antonio Spurs 114-89 at Madison Square Garden, snapping San Antonio’s league-leading 11-game winning streak and forcing the NBA’s most hyped young star into an uncharacteristically blunt assessment of New York’s physical dominance.
“I was surprised, yeah,” Wembanyama said. “It feels like they’re a good basketball team, they are good actual basketball players. They’re not the nastiest, ugly team, you know? They’re not an ugly team to watch but they made our game ugly.”
That description summed up the night.
Knicks Dominate Glass, Control Tempo From Start
New York controlled the game with rebounding, defense and sustained physical pressure, overwhelming a Spurs team that entered the night surging toward the top of the Western Conference standings.
The Knicks outrebounded San Antonio 54-31, including an 18-10 edge on the offensive glass, repeatedly extending possessions and limiting the Spurs’ ability to play at their preferred pace.
The Spurs, who thrive in space and transition, struggled to generate clean looks as the Knicks turned the contest into a half-court grind.
“I think if you watched us even a little bit this year, the best version of us is fast, activity, space, pace,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “Whether that’s ball movement, body movement or a combination of. And at that point through that stretch we were — it felt like — in quicksand a lot, both ways.”
Karl-Anthony Towns Neutralizes Interior Advantage
Much of New York’s control came from Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds to log his league-leading 41st double-double of the season.
Towns grabbed five offensive rebounds, helping negate San Antonio’s size advantage and limiting Wembanyama’s ability to swing momentum with rim protection alone.
Wembanyama still produced 25 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots, but his night was uneven. He committed seven turnovers and went just 1-for-7 from 3-point range as New York’s defense forced him into tougher decisions.
Missed Free Throw Sparks Momentum Swing
Both Wembanyama and Johnson pointed to a late first-quarter sequence as the moment the game shifted.
With San Antonio leading 21-14, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson missed a free throw. The Spurs failed to secure the rebound, allowing New York to close the quarter on an 8-0 run and seize momentum.
“We gave them life,” Wembanyama said. “We should have been better, especially on that run in the first quarter.”
Johnson echoed that sentiment, noting how quickly the game slipped away after a strong start.
“The first 10 minutes roughly couldn’t have gone almost any better for us,” Johnson said.
Jalen Brunson Ignites Knicks’ Surge
After missing his first three shots, Jalen Brunson found his rhythm late in the opening quarter, scoring the Knicks’ final 11 points to help New York carry a one-point lead into the second.
Five of those points came on a decisive five-point possession when Brunson drew a flagrant foul on Dylan Harper while attempting a 3-pointer. He converted two of three free throws, then scored an and-one after the Knicks retained possession.
Brunson finished with 24 points, seven assists and four rebounds, controlling the offense as the Knicks steadily widened the gap.
Balanced Scoring Seals Statement Win
Mikal Bridges led all scorers with 25 points and added a season-high five steals, while Josh Hart posted 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. OG Anunoby chipped in 12 points and five rebounds.
All five Knicks starters scored in double figures for the 16th time this season.
The Knicks held San Antonio to a season-low 89 points and recorded their 10th win of the season by 25 or more points — just the third time the franchise has reached that mark.
French rookie Mohamed Diawara led the bench with 14 points, knocking down four three-pointers as New York’s depth once again proved decisive.
Knicks Send Message to NBA and Wembanyama Took Notice
The box score showed dominance. The rebounding margin told the story. But it was Wembanyama’s reaction that underscored how far the Knicks have come.
New York didn’t overwhelm San Antonio with speed or flash. Instead, the Knicks imposed structure, toughness and discipline — the same formula that has quietly turned them into one of the league’s most difficult matchups.
On a night when the NBA’s most talked-about young star admitted he was caught off guard, the Knicks delivered a message that resonated well beyond Madison Square Garden.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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