Game ID: 22400405
San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 28 23 37 29 117SAS 27 31 25 31 114
NYK vs SAS ScoutingNYK vs 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.
NYK availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restBACK Payne back 12/09 after 2, 15 min since (105% of 14)
NYK availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restBACK Payne back 12/09 after 2, 13 min since (94% of 14)
NYK availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restBACK Payne back 12/09 after 2, 14 min since (103% of 14)
NYK availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restBACK Payne back 12/09 after 2, 13 min since (94% of 14)
NYK availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's rest
full strength
NYK availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's rest
full strength
NYK availability going into 12/28 · back-to-back
full strength
NYK availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restNEW Bridges 37 to 44 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's rest
full strength
SAS availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 5 since 12/03, out tonight
BACK Wembanyama back 12/08 after 2, 30 min since (90% of 33)
BACK Sochan back 12/03 after 13, 26 min since (103% of 25)
BACK Wesley back 12/05 after 2, 13 min since (107% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 12/05 after 2, 12 min since (108% of 11)
NEW Champagnie 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Bassey 10 to 17 min over the last 4
SAS availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Johnson missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 29 min (123% of 24)
OUT Jones missed 6 since 12/03, returns tonight: 14 min (86% of 16)
OUT Collins missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Wembanyama back 12/08 after 2, 31 min since (94% of 33)
BACK Wesley back 12/05 after 2, 12 min since (101% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 12/05 after 2, 11 min since (100% of 11)
NEW Champagnie 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Bassey 10 to 17 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 3 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Wembanyama back 12/08 after 2, 33 min since (98% of 33)
BACK Johnson back 12/19 after 2, 29 min since (123% of 24)
BACK Jones back 12/19 after 6, 14 min since (86% of 16)
NEW Champagnie 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Bassey 10 to 16 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 4 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Wembanyama back 12/08 after 2, 32 min since (97% of 33)
BACK Johnson back 12/19 after 2, 25 min since (105% of 24)
BACK Jones back 12/19 after 6, 16 min since (99% of 16)
NEW Sochan 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Champagnie 24 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 5 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 12/19 after 2, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Jones back 12/19 after 6, 15 min since (96% of 16)
NEW Sochan 25 to 32 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 6 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT Wesley missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Mamukelashvili missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 12/19 after 2, 22 min since (94% of 24)
BACK Jones back 12/19 after 6, 16 min since (97% of 16)
NEW Sochan 25 to 32 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 7 since 12/13, returns tonight: 7 min (56% of 12)
OUT Wesley missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Mamukelashvili missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Bassey missed 2 since 12/25, returns tonight: 5 min (45% of 10)
BACK Johnson back 12/19 after 2, 23 min since (97% of 24)
BACK Jones back 12/19 after 6, 16 min since (98% of 16)
NEW Sochan 25 to 33 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 4 since 12/23, returns tonight: 9 min (73% of 12)
OUT Mamukelashvili missed 4 since 12/23, returns tonight: 8 min (71% of 11)
BACK Collins back 12/29 after 7, 7 min since (56% of 12)
BACK Bassey back 12/29 after 2, 5 min since (45% of 10)
NEW Sochan 25 to 32 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restBACK Collins back 12/29 after 7, 12 min since (99% of 12)
BACK Wesley back 12/31 after 4, 9 min since (73% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 12/31 after 4, 8 min since (71% of 11)
BACK Bassey back 12/29 after 2, 5 min since (50% of 10)
NEW Sochan 25 to 30 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 23 and Brunson at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 29 and Sochan at 15 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-4 a night and San Antonio minus-1 and the arc, New York at 39 percent from three to San Antonio's 35. Call it New York 115, San Antonio 109.
12/15 @ ORL 100-91 — NYK notes
NYK won 100-91. NYK shot 46% (33 of 71) to ORL's 42%, 10 of 24 from three, and went to the line 30 times to ORL's 13 — 24 points from the stripe to their 10. Brunson led with 31 (8 of 18, 4 of 8 from three, 11 of 14 at the line); Towns added 22, Bridges 17. The hinge was Q2, 29-19: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/19 @ MIN 133-107 — NYK notes
NYK won 133-107. NYK shot 52% (50 of 97) to MIN's 46%, 20 of 45 from three. The glass went 57-37 for them. Towns led with 32 (10 of 12, 5 of 5 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Bridges added 29, McBride 16. The hinge was Q2, 41-18: NYK came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 22, and the lead reached 36. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
12/21 @ NOP 104-93 — NYK notes
NYK won 104-93. NYK shot 44% (38 of 87) to NOP's 41%, 15 of 37 from three. Brunson led with 39 (13 of 19, 7 of 10 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Bridges added 18, Anunoby 16. The hinge was Q4, 26-18: a lead of 3 became 11. NYK trailed 45-49 at the half and won the second half 59-44. Brunson was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/23 vs TOR 139-125 — NYK notes
NYK won 139-125. NYK shot 59% (51 of 86) to TOR's 55%, 17 of 37 from three, and got to the line 29 times to TOR's 37. Anunoby led with 31 (13 of 15, 4 of 6 from three); Towns added 31, Payne 19. The hinge was Q2, 40-24: a lead of 2 became 18, and the lead reached 33. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/25 vs SAS 117-114 — NYK notes
NYK won 117-114. NYK shot 45% (45 of 100) to SAS's 51%, 13 of 39 from three. NYK turned it over 5 times to SAS's 15. Bridges led with 41 (17 of 25, 6 of 9 from three); Towns added 21, Brunson 20. The hinge was Q3, 37-25: NYK came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 5. NYK trailed 51-58 at the half and won the second half 66-56. Achiuwa was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/27 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 102, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; da Silva at 16 and Suggs at 16 a game. Without Banchero (27 straight), Wagner (7 straight), Harris (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bridges at 24 and Towns at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 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 Orlando's 30 and the turnovers, Orlando giving it away 17 times a game to New York's 13. Call it New York 109, Orlando 107, Orlando keeping it close.
12/28 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Poole at 26 and Coulibaly at 18 a game. Without Kuzma (11 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 24 and Brunson at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-3 and the defense, New York allowing 105 a night to Washington's 114. Call it New York 117, Washington 109.
12/30 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 27 and Coulibaly at 18 a game. Without Kuzma (12 straight), Holmes (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Bridges at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 110 a night to Washington's 119 and the glass, where New York has been plus-3 a night and Washington minus-2. Call it New York 119, Washington 112.
1/01 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Clarkson at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Collins (4 straight), Hendricks (28 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 17 times a game to New York's 12 and the arc, Utah at 39 percent from three to New York's 34. Call it New York 121, Utah 111, New York by 10.
12/15 vs MIN 92-106 — SAS notes
SAS lost 92-106. SAS shot 41% (37 of 91) to MIN's 40%, 11 of 45 from three, and got to the line just 9 times against 18 fouls committed. SAS turned it over 18 times to MIN's 12, and MIN turned those into 11 steals. Wembanyama led with 20 (8 of 20, 1 of 7 from three); Sochan added 17, Barnes 17. Q3 was theirs, 33-24, the deficit cut from 15 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 82-59 against them. Vassell's -30 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 vs ATL 133-126 — SAS notes
SAS won 133-126 in 1 overtime. SAS shot 49% (49 of 101) to ATL's 47%, 19 of 42 from three. SAS turned it over 17 times to ATL's 22. The glass went 42-53 against them. Wembanyama led with 42 (13 of 24, 7 of 15 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Vassell added 23, Sochan 20. The hinge was Q3, 30-21: SAS came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 3. SAS trailed 60-66 at the half and won the second half 73-60. Wembanyama was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/21 vs POR 114-94 — SAS notes
SAS won 114-94. SAS shot 47% (44 of 93) to POR's 40%, 10 of 36 from three, and went to the line 18 times to POR's 9 — 16 points from the stripe to their 6. Wembanyama led with 30 (8 of 16, 4 of 8 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Bassey added 16, Vassell 11. The hinge was Q2, 35-24: a lead of 5 became 16, and the lead reached 26. Wembanyama was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/23 @ PHI 106-111 — SAS notes
SAS lost 106-111. SAS shot 46% (37 of 81) to PHI's 42%, 15 of 45 from three. SAS turned it over 18 times to PHI's 9, and PHI turned those into 11 steals. Wembanyama led with 26 (9 of 19, 6 of 13 from three); Castle added 17, Sochan 15. Q4 was theirs, 31-27, the deficit cut from 9 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 84-75 against them. Vassell's -17 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 @ NYK 114-117 — SAS notes
SAS lost 114-117. SAS shot 51% (42 of 83) to NYK's 45%, 16 of 38 from three. SAS turned it over 15 times to NYK's 5. Wembanyama led with 42 (16 of 31, 6 of 16 from three); Sochan added 21, Paul 13. Q2 was theirs, 31-23, turning a 1-point deficit into a 7-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-83 against them.
12/27 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 109, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 24 and Clowney at 12 a game. Without Thomas (12 straight), Finney-Smith (3 straight), Williams (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 32 and Sochan at 17 a game. One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-3 a night and San Antonio minus-3. Call it San Antonio 111, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.
12/29 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Randle at 22 and Edwards at 20 a game. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 32 and Sochan at 16 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 107 a night to Minnesota's 115. Call it Minnesota 111, San Antonio 110, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/31 vs LAC — 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 108 a night and allowing 104, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 30 and Vassell at 14 a game. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Powell at 29 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Mann (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to San Antonio's 13. Call it San Antonio 110, the Clippers 107, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/03 @ 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 128 a night and allowing 124, shooting 53 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Murray at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Gordon (4 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 30 and Vassell at 13 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 103 a night to Denver's 124 and the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to San Antonio's 33. Call it Denver 117, San Antonio 114, San Antonio keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASCP C. Paul
DV D. Vassell
HB H. Barnes
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
SC S. Castle
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
NYKCP C. Payne
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
KT K. Towns
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
OA O. Anunoby
PA P. Achiuwa
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
NEW YORK -- — Mikal Bridges scored a season-high 41 points, and the New York Knicks overcame 42 from Victor Wembanyama in a monster Christmas debut to edge the San Antonio Spurs 117-114 on Wednesday.
Wembanyama set a Spurs' record for points on the holiday and added 18 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. The reigning Western Conference player of the week made six 3-pointers.
But Bridges shot 17 for 25 from the field, 6 for 9 behind the arc, to make sure the Knicks had just enough offense to win their fifth in a row and improve to 20-10.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and nine rebounds, and Jalen Brunson scored 20 points. Josh Hart finished with 12 points, 12 boards and six assists.
Jeremy Sochan had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs.
Takeaways Spurs: San Antonio had a chance to pull out a terrific win but gave up 17 offensive rebounds and was unable to get its hands on the ball at the end, with Hart grabbing two misses in the final half-minute to run out the clock.
Knicks: Bridges is often needed more for his defense than offense in his first season with the Knicks, but he reminded people on Wednesday just how good he can be with the ball in his hands.
Key moment The Spurs were within one point with two minutes to go after two free throws by Chris Paul before Bridges made consecutive jumpers for a five-point lead with 1:18 to play.
Key stat Wembanyama broke the Spurs' record for points on Christmas. LaMarcus Aldridge had 33 in 2016.
Up next The Spurs remain in New York to visit Brooklyn on Friday, while the Knicks visit Orlando on Friday.