Game ID: 22500467
New York Knicks @ San Antonio Spurs
Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 36 27 30 41 134NYK 45 28 29 30 132
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 12/23 · 1 day's restBACK Wembanyama back 12/18 after 12, 20 min since (66% of 30)
NEW Kornet 19 to 25 min over the last 4
SAS availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Sochan missed 2 since 12/21, returns tonight: 1 min (9% of 13)
BACK Wembanyama back 12/18 after 12, 21 min since (68% of 30)
SAS availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restBACK Wembanyama back 12/18 after 12, 22 min since (72% of 30)
BACK Sochan back 12/25 after 2, 1 min since (9% of 13)
SAS availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restBACK Sochan back 12/25 after 2, 3 min since (27% of 13)
SAS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restBACK Sochan back 12/25 after 2, 3 min since (27% of 13)
SAS availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Sochan missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
SAS availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Vassell missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Sochan missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
SAS availability going into 1/06 · 2 days' restOUT Vassell missed 3 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Wembanyama missed 2 since 1/02, returns tonight: 21 min (69% of 30)
OUT Sochan missed 4 since 12/29, returns tonight: 14 min (112% of 13)
NEW Kornet 19 to 25 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 1/07 · back-to-backOUT Vassell missed 4 since 12/31, out tonight
BACK Wembanyama back 1/06 after 2, 21 min since (69% of 30)
BACK Sochan back 1/06 after 4, 14 min since (112% of 13)
NEW Kornet 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 4 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 12 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Bridges 33 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Clarkson 16 to 22 min over the last 4
NEW Kolek 11 to 18 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 5 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 13 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Bridges 33 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Hart 31 to 37 min over the last 3
NEW Robinson 18 to 25 min over the last 3
NEW Clarkson 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Kolek 11 to 24 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 6 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 14 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Bridges 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Clarkson 16 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 24 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 7 since 12/09, returns tonight: 18 min (78% of 24)
OUT Shamet missed 15 since 11/24, out tonight
NEW Clarkson 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 16 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 18 min since (78% of 24)
NEW Clarkson 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 17 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 22 min since (94% of 24)
NEW Clarkson 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Kolek 11 to 20 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Hart missed 4 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 18 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 3 since 12/29, returns tonight: 19 min (103% of 18)
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 25 min since (106% of 24)
NEW Kolek 11 to 18 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 5 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 19 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 26 min since (112% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 1/03 after 3, 19 min since (103% of 18)
NYK availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 6 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Shamet missed 20 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/29 after 7, 26 min since (111% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 1/03 after 3, 22 min since (119% of 18)
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 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Castle at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 36 and Towns at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Hart (2 straight), Shamet (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 44 percent from three to San Antonio's 31 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 113 a night to New York's 123. Call it San Antonio 120, New York 116, New York keeping it close.
12/23 vs OKC 130-110 — SAS notes
SAS won 130-110. SAS shot 57% (48 of 84) to OKC's 54%, 16 of 36 from three, and went to the line 24 times to OKC's 7 — 18 points from the stripe to their 6. Johnson led with 25 (10 of 16, 5 of 9 from three); Castle added 24, Barnes 20. The hinge was Q4, 43-28: a lead of 5 became 20. SAS trailed 58-60 at the half and won the second half 72-50. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/25 @ OKC 117-102 — SAS notes
SAS won 117-102. SAS shot 54% (45 of 84) to OKC's 39%, 11 of 29 from three. SAS turned it over 12 times to OKC's 7. Fox led with 29 (12 of 19, 3 of 4 from three); Castle added 19, Wembanyama 19. The hinge was Q3, 26-19: a lead of 9 became 16. Champagnie was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/27 vs UTA 114-127 — SAS notes
SAS lost 114-127. SAS took 16 more shots (99 to 83), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to UTA's 54%, 10 of 44 from three. Wembanyama led with 32 (12 of 21, 0 of 4 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Johnson added 27, Castle 20. Q1 was theirs, 40-32, but the other 3 periods went 95-74 against them. They led by as many as 11. Castle's -30 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 vs CLE 101-113 — SAS notes
SAS lost 101-113. SAS shot 39% (32 of 83) to CLE's 43%, 7 of 31 from three, and went to the line 36 times to CLE's 20 — 30 points from the stripe to their 18. SAS turned it over 18 times to CLE's 12, and CLE turned those into 12 steals. Wembanyama led with 26 (7 of 16, 2 of 6 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Castle added 15, Fox 14. Q2 was theirs, 29-24, but the other 3 periods went 89-72 against them. They led by as many as 11. Castle's -17 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 vs NYK 134-132 — SAS notes
SAS won 134-132. SAS shot 49% (44 of 89) to NYK's 48%, 14 of 38 from three, and went to the line 40 times to NYK's 20 — 32 points from the stripe to their 18. Champagnie led with 36 (11 of 17, 11 of 17 from three); Wembanyama added 31, Fox 26. The hinge was Q4, 41-30: SAS came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 2. SAS trailed 63-73 at the half and won the second half 71-59. Champagnie was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/02 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Toppin (31 straight), Isa. Jackson (5 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Fox at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-4 a night and Indiana minus-10 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 117 a night to Indiana's 126. Call it San Antonio 120, Indiana 115.
1/03 vs POR — 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 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 29 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 27 and Fox at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Vassell (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Avdija at 26 and Sharpe at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Holiday (23 straight), Grant (8 straight), Henderson (35 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the arc, Portland at 38 percent from three to San Antonio's 29 and the line, where San Antonio takes 29 free throws a game to Portland's 22. Call it San Antonio 120, Portland 114.
1/06 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 24 and Jackson Jr. at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Williams Jr. (8 straight), Mashack (5 straight), Prosper (3 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 28 from three, 30 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 30 and Fox at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Vassell (3 straight), Wembanyama (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-6 a night and Memphis minus-3. Call it Memphis 119, San Antonio 118, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/07 vs LAL — 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 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 29 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 29 and Champagnie at 19 a game. Without Vassell (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and James at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Reaves (5 straight), Hachimura (4 straight), Vincent (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 16 times a game to San Antonio's 12. Call it San Antonio 117, the Lakers 115, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/23 @ MIN 104-115 — NYK notes
NYK lost 104-115. NYK shot 41% (41 of 99) to MIN's 45%, 11 of 30 from three, and got to the line 15 times to MIN's 23. NYK turned it over 19 times to MIN's 11, and MIN turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 55-42 for them. Towns led with 40 (14 of 24, 3 of 6 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Kolek added 20, Bridges 15. Q3 was theirs, 27-27, but the other 3 periods went 88-77 against them. Robinson's -15 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 vs CLE 126-124 — NYK notes
NYK won 126-124. NYK shot 47% (44 of 94) to CLE's 52%, 21 of 44 from three. Brunson led with 34 (10 of 25, 6 of 12 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Clarkson added 25, Kolek 16. The hinge was Q2, 37-20: NYK came in trailing by 15 and left it ahead by 2. Kolek was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/27 @ ATL 128-125 — NYK notes
NYK won 128-125. NYK shot 45% (43 of 95) to ATL's 48%, 15 of 43 from three. The glass went 55-37 for them. Towns led with 36 (8 of 15, 3 of 6 from three, 17 of 18 at the line); Brunson added 34, Anunoby 15. The hinge was Q2, 35-28: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 18. Robinson was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/29 @ NOP 130-125 — NYK notes
NYK won 130-125. NYK shot 48% (46 of 95) to NOP's 46%, 20 of 44 from three, and got to the line 19 times to NOP's 27. Brunson led with 28 (10 of 23, 5 of 10 from three); Anunoby added 23, Diawara 18. The hinge was Q4, 34-22: NYK came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 5. NYK trailed 72-75 at the half and won the second half 58-50. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/31 @ SAS 132-134 — NYK notes
NYK lost 132-134. NYK shot 48% (46 of 96) to SAS's 49%, 22 of 52 from three, and got to the line 20 times to SAS's 40. Brunson led with 29 (10 of 24, 5 of 12 from three); McBride added 21, Towns 20. Q1 was theirs, 45-36, but the other 3 periods went 98-87 against them. They led by as many as 19. Anunoby's -25 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs ATL — 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 124 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 31 and Towns at 24 a game. Without Hart (3 straight), Shamet (17 straight), Robinson (2 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 26 and Alexander-Walker at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Young (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-3 a night and Atlanta minus-9. Call it New York 124, Atlanta 119.
1/03 vs PHI — 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 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Towns at 20 a game. Without Hart (4 straight), Shamet (18 straight), Robinson (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Embiid at 28 and Maxey at 27 a game. Without Oubre Jr. (20 straight), Watford (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 39 percent from three to Philadelphia's 34. Call it New York 120, Philadelphia 117, Philadelphia keeping it close.
1/05 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Cunningham at 28 and Duren at 14 a game. Without Harris (2 straight), LeVert (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Towns at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Hart (5 straight), Shamet (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 17 times a game to New York's 12 and the defense, Detroit allowing 115 a night to New York's 125. Call it Detroit 119, New York 117, New York keeping it close.
1/07 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and McBride at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Hart (6 straight), Shamet (20 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 36 and Harden at 22 a game. Without Bogdanović (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 108 a night to New York's 124 and the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-1 a night and New York minus-6. Call it the Clippers 116, New York 115, New York keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASCB C. Bryant
DF D. Fox
DH D. Harper
HB H. Barnes
JC J. Champagnie
KJ K. Johnson
KO K. Olynyk
LK L. Kornet
SC S. Castle
VW V. Wembanyama
NYKAH A. Hukporti
GY G. Yabusele
JB J. Brunson
JC J. Clarkson
KM K. McCullar Jr.
KT K. Towns
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diawara
MM M. McBride
OA O. Anunoby
TK T. Kolek
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
Spurs survive injury scare to Wembanyama, rally to beat Knicks 134-132 in NBA Cup final rematch
SAN ANTONIO -- — Julian Champagnie had a career-high 36 points and set a franchise record with 11 3-pointers and the San Antonio Spurs survived an injury scare to Victor Wembanyama , rallying to beat the New York Knicks 134-132 on Wednesday night in a rematch of the NBA Cup final.
Wembanyama finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes before limping off the court with an apparent leg injury with under 11 minutes remaining. He returned to the bench in warmups in the final minutes.
New York's Jalen Brunson had 29 points, including a 3-pointer at the close of regulation after stripping Keldon Johnson of possession as he celebrated with San Antonio's bench. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordan Clarkson added 20 points apiece for the Knicks, who had a three-game winning streak halted.
Wembanyama hobbled off the court unassisted with 10:32 remaining, heading to the locker room after injuring his left leg. He had soared to gather an offensive rebound over Towns and lost possession when he landed. Replays showed there was no contact, but Wembanyama’s left foot slid forward and his knee appeared to hyperextend.
Wembanyama returned to San Antonio's bench with 1:22 remaining, walking calmly and without a limp. It was a good time for the 7-foot-4 center to return. Wembanyama cheered from the sidelines as the Spurs held on to beat the Knicks to snap a two-game skid.
Champagnie scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, going 4 for 5 on 3-pointers, as San Antonio erased a double-digit deficit.
Champagnie finished 11 for 17 on 3-pointers, besting the previous mark of nine 3s set by Chuck Person on Dec. 30, 1997.
New York outscored San Antonio 28-27 in the second quarter, but it would have been much worse without Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 center had 16 points in the second period.
Wembanyama brought the sell-out crowd to its feet with a one-handed slam off an alley-oop pass from Castle that cut New York's lead to 54-50. The Knicks responded with a 17-2 run following a timeout and Wembanyama's exit, including 14 straight points to cap the surge.
Wembanyama returned to help pare the deficit to 73-63.
Champagnie hit back-to-back 3-pointers, capping a 16-2 run that tied the game at 86 midway through the third.
Wembanyama made his 300th career 3-pointer, becoming the fastest to do so among 7-footers and accomplishing the feat in 138 games. That beat the previous mark of 141 games by Utah’s Lauri Markkanen .