Game Thread Spurs (18-7) vs Knicks (18-7) (Tue 12/16/25) [7:30PM CDT]

[Quentin_Compson]

By the way, both SGA and Brunson only had 4 FTs each in the last two games the Spurs played. Not that it will prevent people from complaining in the future, of course.

 

[O_V]

Can't say I'm too surprised; Knicks are a veteran team that has played a lot of high pressure games. It's good for the Spurs to be playing these kind of games and seeing what it really takes to win in this league. Another reason I'm not too disappointed in getting five games against OKC as this isn't a contending year; it's a development year. Really hope the Spurs get a series against Denver or OKC in the playoffs to get more experience against poised veteran teams and to learn how to become one of them.

Yeah, any noise the team makes this early in their history is pure gravy. They won against what looks like a historically good team and came away from the Knicks game with a lot of learning experience. I'm pretty thrilled with the development of this squad.

 

[Spursgenius]

I just saw a clip of now of Victor crying over losing someone that was close to him today.

wish his family in France waited til after the game to break the news unless she was doing bad already and in the hospital. The close ups of him in first quarter on the bench you could tell he was in deep thought. definitely affected him.

 

[Mugen]

Pretty typical 25/26 Spurs loss tbh.

We stop doing the little things like cleaning up the defensive glass and we become a mediocre team again real quick.

Should have put the nail into NY in the 3rd but we missed open 3s and gave up way too many 2nd chance points. Mitchell Robinson was their MVP.

Fun experience in Vegas though, thank god the game doesn't count towards the record

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Looking at the schedule, I see we have a rematch at home against these boys on New Year’s Eve. Payback time.

 

[Area 51.247]

I understand negativity can be frustrating for many but I have yet to go to any sports forum (Reddit, Barca forum, Twitter etc..) where it isn’t full of cliff jumpers. I tend to vent quickly in the moment myself but it seems more of a sports wide thing than just something unique to this fanbase.

Humanity wide thing. From time immemorial.

Rule of thumb in customer service used to be a dissatisfied client spread their tale of grief, woe, and angst to twenty peers, while a satisfied client might tell one, if prompted.

 

[Area 51.247]

This game was a more valuable learning experience than 10 wins against tanking teams would've been.
That's why I wrote I'm glad we have an extra game against OKC this season, you improve faster by playing the best teams.

...playing the best teams in difficult circumstances and situations.

On the road. Rubber matches. When your stars are hobbled.

 

[BatManu20]

Looking at the schedule, I see we have a rematch at home against these boys on New Year’s Eve. Payback time.

I'll be there. Will be my first Spurs game this season. Looking forward to getting some revenge tbh.

 

[Area 51.247]

The Knicks fans were very loud, especially on the side of the court that we finished on offense in the 4th. I didn’t get the sense that there were that many more Knicks fans, but they were definitely a lot louder.

I did see a lot of Spurs jerseys and gear in the crowd, which was great to see away from home. When I’ve gone to games in BOS or LA, I’ve always been the only one in Silver & Black.

Where were the Jackals?

Went to a Dynamo@Red Bulls playoff game in Meadowlands years ago with my son and his travel team friend. Got in the stands and all the fans for both teams were on one side of the field and the cameras were on the other side. Looked full on TV, wasn't in any way or fashion..

Made for an awkward moment in the stands. We were in the midst of like all the NY & NJ travel teams there on reduced cost tickets (another way to fill the stands). When the Dynamo scored in near stoppage time to force the third leg, I jumped and was wildly yelling....then looked down and saw my son and his friend looking down, around and anywhere but acknowledging my presence, while hundreds of disappointed young Red Bulls fans were staring and muttering about idiots, etc. Memories....

 

[Dbreiden83080]

You guys are seriously dogging on Victor Wembanyama, the most amazing player who has been gifted to you in 25 years, for not giving 100% in an exhibition game shortly after coming back from an injury.

Y'all need to go outside for a while. I hope you remember how stupid you sounded tonight when he's raising each of his multiple Finals MVP trophies.

I will just settle for Wemby being healthy the rest of the season right now and a nice playoff run. He has to prove he can stay on the court..

 

[Corso]

My buddy and I were watching the game and I could just tell he was not into it. Slow on rotations, slow on blocks that he kills in his sleep. Bad rotations, low effort on the boards...
And it didn't look physical. I just knew something was up with him. He just wasn't into it fully. So sorry to learn it was a death in the family. My heart goes out to him.

Stay strong big fella. Sending good vibes, even if it does nothing.

 

[bozhemoi]

By the way, both SGA and Brunson only had 4 FTs each in the last two games the Spurs played. Not that it will prevent people from complaining in the future, of course.

This is a lot of Castle right here, and thanks for pointing it out.

 

[bozhemoi]

Something to remember is that the Knicks are very playoff tested. They battled back impressively against superior teams in the last couple years. Also, some of these dudes won NCAA rings together in college.

This was the first game of any consequence these Spurs have played together.

 

[Ice009]

This happens to young teams that never been in the playoffs before we see it every year in the NBA playoffs this is part of the learning process of becoming a team that has expectations and trying to live up to them against other good teams.

The worse part is this team keeps letting teams back into the game they managed to win most them they need to learn to put teams away. The worse part they are usually self inflicted also the team missed a lot of open shots and then mix in a few really bad shot selections. Then just getting outworked on the boards in the 4th qtr

I think they start to take some really bad shots when they get leads. They need to keep the flow of the offense and learn not to just jack up the first open shot they get. Work it around from good to great. They start going for haymakers/big shots sometimes when they're trying to put a team away and inadvertently let them back in it.

My buddy and I were watching the game and I could just tell he was not into it. Slow on rotations, slow on blocks that he kills in his sleep. Bad rotations, low effort on the boards...
And it didn't look physical. I just knew something was up with him. He just wasn't into it fully. So sorry to learn it was a death in the family. My heart goes out to him.

Stay strong big fella. Sending good vibes, even if it does nothing.

Good observation if you saw that. I was too into the intensity of the game and didn't quite notice. He didn't look good, but I didn't look closely at him. I thought it was rust.

By the way, both SGA and Brunson only had 4 FTs each in the last two games the Spurs played. Not that it will prevent people from complaining in the future, of course.

This is big, thanks for posting. Spurs, especially Castle did great on helping keep these guys off the line. I think Steph himself should have had more free throws, though.

 

[Unseen]

Although they lost them being in this game was still a blessing in this team's development. It sucks that they couldn't pull out the win but there is still so many lessons that they got just being in these situations that you just can't replicate in practice.

I see this basically a jumpstart to them getting the team prepared to be competitive in the playoffs.

 

[scott]

Where were the Jackals?

Went to a Dynamo@Red Bulls playoff game in Meadowlands years ago with my son and his travel team friend. Got in the stands and all the fans for both teams were on one side of the field and the cameras were on the other side. Looked full on TV, wasn't in any way or fashion..

Made for an awkward moment in the stands. We were in the midst of like all the NY & NJ travel teams there on reduced cost tickets (another way to fill the stands). When the Dynamo scored in near stoppage time to force the third leg, I jumped and was wildly yelling....then looked down and saw my son and his friend looking down, around and anywhere but acknowledging my presence, while hundreds of disappointed young Red Bulls fans were staring and muttering about idiots, etc. Memories....

I was sitting in the upper bowl at center court, opposite of the side the TV cameras were on. So if you were watching on TV, my right was your left, etc.

The jackals were below me in the lower bowl, slightly to my left. I could definitely hear them. But the 4th when the Knicks went on their run, the Knicks crowd to my right was VERY loud. It was kind of impressive to be honest.

I'd say the arena was like 90% full. It wasn't like there was a sea of empty sections, but you could definitely see some empty seats just by looking around.

 

[twodeep]

I think they start to take some really bad shots when they get leads. They need to keep the flow of the offense and learn not to just jack up the first open shot they get. Work it around from good to great. They start going for haymakers/big shots sometimes when they're trying to put a team away and inadvertently let them back in it.

Good observation if you saw that. I was too into the intensity of the game and didn't quite notice. He didn't look good, but I didn't look closely at him. I thought it was rust.


This is big, thanks for posting. Spurs, especially Castle did great on helping keep these guys off the line. I think Steph himself should have had more free throws, though.

All learning experience why I have not fretted over this loss it is a big learning curve for the youth as we work towards being a playoff team with expectation