The Knicks closed out 2025 with a tough 134-132 loss to the Spurs at Frostbank Center on Wednesday night, blowing several double-digit leads along the way.
Rookie forward Mohamed Diawara made his third career start and started strong, sinking two three-pointers in the first three minutes to give the Knicks an early 10-3 advantage. However, the Spurs quickly found their groove with an 11-0 run in the first quarter, erasing the Knicks’ lead and forcing two timeouts. Coach Mike Brown was pleased as the Knicks kept up their impressive three-point shooting, knocking down nine threes and racking up a season-high 45 first-quarter points. This marked the 14th time this season that a player scored 40 or more points in the opening period, matching last year’s total.
Despite a fast start, turnovers allowed the Spurs to close the gap from a 12-point lead to four with just over seven minutes left in the second quarter. The Knicks responded with a 14-0 scoring run to push their lead to 71-52 but went cold late in the half, failing to score for nearly three minutes. The Spurs capitalized on this drought with a 9-0 run, cutting the halftime deficit to 73-63.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks in the first half with 13 points among eight players who scored at least three. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns struggled to match Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who dominated with 22 points in the half and led the crucial late 9-0 run. The Spurs carefully managed Wembanyama’s playing time, limiting him to 25 minutes.
In the third quarter, Miles McBride hit two threes to push the Knicks’ lead back to 14 points. However, the Spurs rallied with Wembanyama and Julian Champagnie combining for 19 points in just over four minutes, tying the score at 91-91. Keldon Johnson then gave the Spurs their first lead since early in the game, igniting the crowd. The Knicks quickly answered with an 11-0 run that made it 102-93, with Brunson contributing eight points.
Both teams scored 31 points in the third quarter, but the fourth started badly for the Spurs when Wembanyama suffered a knee injury after an awkward landing. Though he signaled to fans that he would return, the 7-foot-4 star never came back on the court.
Surprisingly, Wembanyama’s injury didn’t slow the Spurs. With time running down, Champagnie hit multiple threes to tie the game at 116-116 and set a franchise record with 11 three-pointers. Champagnie had a career night, scoring 36 points, while De’Aaron Fox added a clutch layup to give the Spurs a late lead.
The Knicks were down by one point entering the final moments, but poor defense, foul trouble, and missed shots allowed the Spurs to extend their lead from the free-throw line. McBride’s clutch free throws cut the deficit to three points, but a Spurs possession sealed the win. Brunson’s last-second three-pointer fell short. This loss was especially painful given the Knicks’ 19-point lead after the third quarter and the buildup to the NBA Cup rematch.
Despite knocking down an incredible 22 threes on 52 attempts, the Knicks’ defense collapsed in the fourth quarter, allowing 41 points and struggling against Champagnie. The Knicks also committed 30 fouls to the Spurs’ 17.
McBride and Clarkson’s bench contributions were vital, combining for 41 points on efficient shooting. Diawara, after his early three-pointers, failed to score again, while Brunson led with 29 points, eight assists, and four rebounds. Towns added 20 points, and Mikal Bridges was limited to 13.
Game MVP: Julian Champagnie
On New Year’s Eve, Champagnie’s performance was reason enough to celebrate, as the St. John’s product torched the Knicks with a franchise-record 11 three-pointers and a game-high 36 points.
Looking ahead, the Knicks (23-10) will kick off 2026 at home against the Atlanta Hawks, with a tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Fan Take: This game highlights the Knicks’ potential and their glaring weaknesses, especially in defense and closing out games. For basketball fans, it’s a thrilling reminder that even dominant three-point shooting isn’t enough without a solid defensive strategy, and it sets the stage for a compelling season as the Knicks seek to sharpen their focus and consistency.
