Game ID: 22301070
New York Knicks @ San Antonio Spurs
Friday, March 29, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
SAS 38 36 20 27 9 130NYK 27 30 34 30 5 126
NYK @ SAS ScoutingNYK @ SAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
SAS availability going into 3/22 · 2 days' restOUT Graham missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Gray missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Duke Jr. missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 8 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Wembanyama back 3/11 after 2, 33 min since (110% of 30)
BACK Osman back 3/17 after 4, 13 min since (72% of 18)
NEW Vassell 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Jones 28 to 33 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 3/23 · back-to-backOUT Graham missed 4 since 3/15, returns tonight: 9 min (65% of 14)
OUT Gray missed 4 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Duke Jr. missed 4 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 9 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Osman back 3/17 after 4, 14 min since (80% of 18)
NEW Vassell 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Jones 28 to 33 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Gray missed 5 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Duke Jr. missed 5 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 10 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Osman back 3/17 after 4, 15 min since (87% of 18)
BACK Graham back 3/23 after 4, 9 min since (65% of 14)
SAS availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Gray missed 6 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Duke Jr. missed 6 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 11 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Osman back 3/17 after 4, 15 min since (86% of 18)
BACK Graham back 3/23 after 4, 9 min since (65% of 14)
SAS availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Gray missed 7 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Duke Jr. missed 7 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 12 since 3/05, out tonight
SAS availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 3 since 3/25, returns tonight: 18 min (135% of 14)
OUT Gray missed 8 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Duke Jr. missed 8 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 13 since 3/05, out tonight
SAS availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Gray missed 9 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Duke Jr. missed 9 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 14 since 3/05, returns tonight: 5 min (43% of 12)
BACK Graham back 3/23 after 4, 14 min since (100% of 14)
NEW Champagnie 20 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 4/05 · 2 days' restOUT Johnson missed 2 since 3/31, out tonight
OUT Gray missed 10 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Duke Jr. missed 10 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Bouyea missed 2 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Graham back 3/31 after 3, 19 min since (139% of 14)
BACK Cissoko back 4/02 after 14, 5 min since (43% of 12)
NEW Vassell 33 to 39 min over the last 3
NEW Champagnie 20 to 31 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 3 since 3/31, returns tonight: 24 min (80% of 30)
OUT Gray missed 11 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Duke Jr. missed 11 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Bouyea missed 3 since 3/31, out tonight
BACK Graham back 3/31 after 3, 21 min since (153% of 14)
BACK Cissoko back 4/02 after 14, 6 min since (47% of 12)
NEW Jones 28 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Branham 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Champagnie 20 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Osman 18 to 23 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Robinson missed 47 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Anunoby back 3/12 after 18, 33 min since (92% of 35)
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 5 min since (39% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 48 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (54% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 49 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 10 min since (86% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 34 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 50 since 12/11, returns tonight: 12 min (52% of 24)
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 9 min since (78% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 39 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 5 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Burks missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 3/27 after 50, 12 min since (52% of 24)
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 9 min since (73% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 44 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 6 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Burks missed 3 since 3/25, returns tonight: 12 min (83% of 15)
BACK Robinson back 3/27 after 50, 16 min since (67% of 24)
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 44 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 7 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 2 since 3/29, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 3/27 after 50, 16 min since (67% of 24)
BACK Burks back 3/31 after 3, 12 min since (83% of 15)
NEW Hart 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 44 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 8 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 3 since 3/29, returns tonight: 1 min (5% of 12)
BACK Robinson back 3/27 after 50, 14 min since (59% of 24)
BACK Burks back 3/31 after 3, 8 min since (52% of 15)
NEW Hart 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 44 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 4/05 · back-to-backOUT Anunoby missed 9 since 3/18, returns tonight: 29 min (82% of 35)
BACK Robinson back 3/27 after 50, 14 min since (60% of 24)
BACK Burks back 3/31 after 3, 8 min since (54% of 15)
BACK Sims back 4/04 after 3, 1 min since (5% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 44 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Vassell at 21 and Wembanyama at 19 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and DiVincenzo at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to San Antonio's 31 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 15 times a game to New York's 10. Call it New York 114, San Antonio 109.
3/22 vs MEM 97-99 — SAS notes
SAS lost 97-99. SAS took 13 more shots (95 to 82), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to MEM's 40%, 7 of 38 from three, and got to the line 23 times to MEM's 31. Wembanyama led with 31 (11 of 24, 3 of 12 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Vassell added 27, Jones 16. Q1 was theirs, 30-18, but the other 3 periods went 81-67 against them. They led by as many as 17. Collins's -17 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs PHX 106-131 — SAS notes
SAS lost 106-131. SAS shot 47% (40 of 85) to PHX's 60%, 9 of 33 from three, and went to the line 21 times to PHX's 10 — 17 points from the stripe to their 8. SAS turned it over 15 times to PHX's 8, and PHX turned those into 11 steals. Johnson led with 14 (5 of 11, 0 of 5 from three); Wembanyama added 13, Wesley 12. Q4 was theirs, 35-28, the deficit cut from 32 to 25, but the other 3 periods went 103-71 against them. Vassell's -27 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 vs PHX 104-102 — SAS notes
SAS won 104-102. SAS shot 44% (40 of 91) to PHX's 51%, 8 of 31 from three. SAS turned it over 7 times to PHX's 14. Sochan led with 26 (10 of 19, 1 of 7 from three); Vassell added 26, Collins 18. The hinge was Q1, 29-22: from level to 7 ahead. SAS trailed 47-50 at the half and won the second half 57-52. Wesley was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/27 @ UTA 118-111 — SAS notes
SAS won 118-111. SAS shot 51% (44 of 86) to UTA's 47%, 16 of 33 from three. Vassell led with 31 (12 of 20, 4 of 8 from three); Wembanyama added 19, Sochan 17. The hinge was Q1, 29-15: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Wembanyama was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
3/29 vs NYK 130-126 — SAS notes
SAS won 130-126 in 1 overtime. SAS shot 54% (44 of 82) to NYK's 46%, 16 of 40 from three, and went to the line 32 times to NYK's 12 — 26 points from the stripe to their 10. Wembanyama led with 40 (13 of 22, 4 of 9 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Vassell added 23, Johnson 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-27: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Johnson was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/31 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Vassell at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 104, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 15 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Thompson at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Kuminga (2 straight), Šarić (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-7 a night and San Antonio minus-1 and the line, where San Antonio takes 23 free throws a game to Golden State's 15. Call it Golden State 114, San Antonio 112, San Antonio keeping it close.
4/02 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Jackson at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Murray (5 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Vassell at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 106 a night to San Antonio's 117 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and San Antonio minus-1. Call it Denver 117, San Antonio 110.
4/05 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and McCollum at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Ingram (7 straight), Alvarado (4 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 28 and Vassell at 27 a game. Without Johnson (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-1 a night and New Orleans minus-6 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 14 times a game to New Orleans's 9. Call it New Orleans 115, San Antonio 111, San Antonio keeping it close.
4/07 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Branham at 15 a game. Without Johnson (3 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 44 from three, 18 free throws a game; Embiid at 28 and Harris at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Harris (2 straight), Melton (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 44 percent from three to San Antonio's 38 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 109 a night to San Antonio's 115. Call it San Antonio 115, Philadelphia 114, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/21 @ DEN 100-113 — NYK notes
NYK lost 100-113. NYK shot 48% (38 of 79) to DEN's 54%, 11 of 31 from three. The glass went 31-42 against them. Brunson led with 26 (11 of 23, 2 of 7 from three); Hartenstein added 20, Burks 18. Q4 was theirs, 24-25, but the other 3 periods went 88-76 against them. Hart's -21 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs BKN 105-93 — NYK notes
NYK won 105-93. NYK shot 43% (42 of 97) to BKN's 45%, 15 of 40 from three. NYK turned it over 9 times to BKN's 15. DiVincenzo led with 31 (12 of 24, 4 of 13 from three); McBride added 26, Brunson 17. The hinge was Q4, 25-16: a lead of 3 became 12, and the lead reached 18. NYK trailed 56-57 at the half and won the second half 49-36. Hart was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/25 vs DET 124-99 — NYK notes
NYK won 124-99. NYK shot 51% (45 of 89) to DET's 39%, 19 of 46 from three. The glass went 52-37 for them. DiVincenzo led with 40 (14 of 23, 11 of 20 from three); Brunson added 28, McBride 13. The hinge was Q1, 36-17: from level to 19 ahead, and the lead reached 31. Brunson was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
3/27 @ TOR 145-101 — NYK notes
NYK won 145-101. NYK shot 59% (55 of 94) to TOR's 46%, 22 of 44 from three. NYK turned it over 11 times to TOR's 18. The glass went 42-28 for them. McBride led with 29 (10 of 17, 9 of 14 from three); Brunson added 26, Achiuwa 19. The hinge was Q4, 34-21: a lead of 31 became 44. McBride was the night's best plus/minus at +40.
3/29 @ SAS 126-130 — NYK notes
NYK lost 126-130 in 1 overtime. NYK took 28 more shots (110 to 82), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to SAS's 54%, 14 of 37 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 24 fouls committed. Brunson led with 61 (25 of 47, 5 of 13 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); DiVincenzo added 20, Hart 12. Q3 was theirs, 34-20, the deficit cut from 17 to 3, but the other 4 periods went 110-92 against them. Achiuwa's -30 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and DiVincenzo at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (6 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Giddey at 22 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-1 and the defense, New York allowing 107 a night to OKC's 114. Call it New York 116, OKC 112, OKC keeping it close.
4/02 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Adebayo at 19 and Rozier at 18 a game. Without Herro (18 straight), Richardson (21 straight), Love (16 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and DiVincenzo at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Anunoby (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-8 a night and Miami minus-2 and the defense, Miami allowing 99 a night to New York's 107. Call it Miami 111, New York 109, New York keeping it close.
4/04 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 33 and DiVincenzo at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Anunoby (8 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 22 and Murray at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New York 115, Sacramento 110.
4/05 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 29 and White at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 3 days' rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 34 and DiVincenzo at 21 a game. Without Anunoby (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Chicago 113, New York 112, New York keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASBW B. Wesley
CO C. Osman
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
NYKBB B. Bogdanović
DD D. DiVincenzo
IH I. Hartenstein
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
MM M. McBride
MR M. Robinson
PA P. Achiuwa
SM S. Milton
SAS/NYK the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Wembanyama has 40 points, 20 rebounds, Spurs overcome Brunson's 61 points to edge Knicks in OT
SAN ANTONIO -- — Victor Wembanyama had a career-high 40 points and added 20 rebounds and seven assists, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame Jalen Brunson’s career-best 61 points to beat the New York Knicks 130-126 in overtime on Friday night.
Wembanyama made a 3-pointer to give San Antonio a four-point lead in OT. He had the first 40-point, 20-rebound game by a rookie since Shaquille O’Neal had 46 points and 21 rebounds on Feb. 16, 1993. The No. 1 pick in the draft also had a blocked shot and a steal while collecting his 39th double-double in 65 games.
“I’ve never seen so much greatness before,” Wembanyama said. “The season has been going on for just some months. I’ve just witnessed so much greatness and I want to be a part of it. I always wanted to, but more and more seeing that I’m already able to compete with those guys. I’m not near, but I’m on the right path. I know it and I’m going to get there and soon.”
Brunson finished one point shy of Carmelo Anthony’s franchise record of 62 points on Jan. 24, 2014, missing a 3-pointer that would have given the Knicks the lead with 5.4 seconds remaining in OT.
“It’s great, but it’s washed out with the window with the loss,” Brunson said. “So, it doesn’t really matter.”
Brunson had the fifth-highest point total in the NBA this season.
“He’s special,” Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo said. "I think he’s an All-NBA talent. Even if we didn’t come away with the win tonight, I think what he did tonight showed you that he’s one of the best guards in the East. Every single night, whatever it takes to win, he does that. Tonight, it was almost.”
After stealing the ball in the final seconds to seal the victory, Wembanyama let out a huge scream in celebration and threw the ball into the stands. Will he pay for the souvenir?
“Nah,” Wembanyama said, laughing afterward. “Somebody else is going to.”
As they should, considering Wembanyama’s contributions in leading the Spurs to their first three-game winning streak of the season.
“He’s going to be one of the greatest players this game has seen,” Brunson said. “Just the way he’s built. What he’s been able to do so far. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Devin Vasell added 23 points for the Spurs (18-56), who are three victories from surpassing the worst record in franchise history of 20-62 set in 1997.
New York took its first lead at 113-112 with 4:39 remaining in regulation on a 3-pointer by DiVincenzo. There were five ties in the final minutes of regulation to set up overtime.
DiVincenzo finished with 20 points and set the Knicks’ single-season record for 3-pointers with 245.
New York (44-29) fell a half-game behind Cleveland (45-29) for third in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 117-114 on Friday.
Brunson surpassed his previous career best of 50 points against Phoenix on Dec. 15. The Knicks needed of all his heroics after an uncharacteristic poor defensive effort from Tom Thibodeau’s team.
After holding their previous 10 opponents to 93.4 points per game, including three under 80 points, the Knicks gave up 74 points in the first half to the Spurs.
“They stayed strong when New York made a heck of a run,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “To me, that’s the best part of the game. It shows that progression in what it takes to win a game in the NBA.”
San Antonio was a point shy of its season high of 75 points in the first half against Phoenix on Nov. 2.
Wembanyama alarmed the Spurs and their fans when he went limping off the court favoring his right leg with 6:24 remaining in the first quarter. He limped back to the locker room a minute later. After a tense five minutes, Wembanyama came sprinting back to the bench with two minutes left in the first quarter.
Wembanyama made the first attempt upon his return, a driving, scoop layup under Mitchell Robinson’s arm a minute into the second quarter.
The Spurs did lose Jeremy Sochan , who exited in the second quarter with a sore left ankle.
San Antonio led by as many as 13 in building a 38-27 lead in the opening quarter. It marked the first time the Spurs have scored 38 points in the opening quarter since Dec. 28, and they are 3-1 when scoring 38-plus.
“We give them confidence and they were just rolling from the beginning,” Brunson said. “I think we played well the rest of the game. We fought. They went on runs; we went on runs. We just kept on fighting, but at the beginning of the game just didn’t do good.”