Brunson's 45-Point Masterpiece Lifts Knicks Past Spurs 94-90 in San Antonio

New York Knicks

94

NBA · FINAL

Frost Bank Center

San Antonio Spurs

90

Game Recap

The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 at Frost Bank Center on a night defined by Jalen Brunson's offensive brilliance and the Knicks' collective defensive grit. In a low-scoring, physical affair, New York leaned heavily on its All-Star guard, who poured in 45 points on 14-of-27 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and a perfect 13-of-15 at the stripe would not materialize, but his efficiency at the line proved decisive in a four-point game.

The Spurs kept it close thanks to a balanced effort, but they struggled mightily to generate efficient offense. San Antonio shot poorly as a team from deep, with De'Aaron Fox enduring a particularly rough night, going just 3-of-15 from the floor and 1-of-8 from three-point range to finish with seven points. Stephon Castle also struggled, hitting only 1-of-10 field goal attempts for six points, though he contributed five rebounds and four assists. The Spurs' inability to convert from the perimeter allowed New York to maintain its slim lead down the stretch.

Dylan Harper was a bright spot offensively for San Antonio, leading the team with 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three, while adding five rebounds and four assists without a turnover. Victor Wembanyama recorded a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds to go along with five blocks, but his 7-of-19 shooting and 1-of-6 mark from three reflected the broader offensive struggles. Julian Champagnie contributed 14 points and seven rebounds, while Devin Vassell chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds in 39 minutes.

Key Performances

Brunson was the undisputed engine of the Knicks' offense, playing 41 minutes and scoring nearly half of New York's total output. His 45 points came on efficient 14-of-27 shooting, and he added three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. The Knicks needed every bit of it, as the rest of the roster combined for 49 points on largely inefficient shooting. Mikal Bridges provided solid complementary scoring with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-7 from deep, alongside four assists and a block.

Josh Hart delivered a prototypical all-around effort, logging 39 minutes and posting 13 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists with a team-best plus-minus of +15. Hart connected on 3-of-6 from three-point range and grabbed three offensive rebounds. OG Anunoby struggled offensively, going 3-of-11 for 11 points, but he contributed eight rebounds, three steals, and a block in 33 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns endured a difficult offensive night with just two points on 1-of-7 shooting and five turnovers, though he grabbed 10 rebounds. Mitchell Robinson was active on the glass off the bench, pulling down six offensive rebounds among his 10 total in 20 minutes.

For the Spurs, Wembanyama's five blocks anchored the defense, and his six offensive rebounds created second-chance opportunities, but the supporting cast could not provide enough consistent scoring. Keldon Johnson was efficient in limited action, scoring seven points on 2-of-5 shooting with 2-of-3 from three in 16 minutes, posting a team-high +17. The Spurs' starting backcourt of Fox and Castle combined for just 13 points on 4-of-25 shooting, a deficit that ultimately proved too much to overcome despite Harper's strong contribution.

What's Next

Both teams will look to regroup following this defensive-minded contest. The Knicks will carry the momentum of Brunson's dominant performance forward, while the Spurs will aim to address their perimeter shooting woes and find more consistent offensive production alongside Wembanyama and Harper as they continue their development.

Box Score