Game Thread Spurs (23-9) vs Knicks (23-9) (Wed 12/31/25) [6:00 PM CDT]

[gilmor2002]

Actually Castle played really bad in this game. Even in the 4th quarter. The offense he initiated in the absence of Wemby was bad and turned into quick transition points for Knicks.

 

[spursparker9]

Actually Castle played really bad in this game. Even in the 4th quarter. The offense he initiated in the absence of Wemby was bad and turned into quick transition points for Knicks.

Yea...I think this is also the first time that he was on the bench to close out the 4Q.

 

[gilmor2002]

Kornet was huge man

 

[LeBowen]

The defense in the first half was abysmal. Same type of lazy shitty 3 point defense as we saw against the Jazz and the Cavs. Guys getting lost on switches and screens, just wide open 3s everywhere. Wemby standing in the paint not guarding anyone.

The defense in the first 9 minutes of the 3rd I thought was awesome. Turned a 10 point half time deficit into a 2 point lead 93-91. And it wasn’t the Knicks missing shots it was mostly due to the defense. Very few wide open 3s for the Knicks.

Then with 3:08 to go and the score at 93-91 Spurs Mitch subs out Champ and Castle for Bryant and Fox. Remember at this point Champ had 7 threes, Victor had 2 threes who was also on the bench at this time, and the rest of the team had 1 three combined from like 20 attempts.

Knicks would go on a 11-0 run to close the quarter. While it’s easy to blame Bryant for this he deserves some blame it wasn’t all his fault.

First possession Bryant firmly sticks his forearm into Clarkson body for about 5 seconds until Clarkson just rips through for an easy foul call. Mitch chews out Bryant. Puts the Spurs at the foul limit for no fucking reason. Gotta have better IQ than that.

Same possession Clarkson hits a 3 after Harper stumbles and gives him too much room. Knicks up 94-93. Btw I thought Harper defense was great all game minus a couple of minor mishaps like this one.

Harper misses a 3.

Kornet blocks a Clarkson layup.

Fox misses a 3 and Bryant ploughs through Brunson going to crash the glass. Spurs over the limit free throws for Brunson because Bryant’s earlier dumb foul on Clarkson put the Spurs in the penalty. Knicks up 96-93.

Mitch brings Champ back in for Harper realising his fuck up for taking him out.

Champ misses a 3.

Fox brain dead defense leads to a Brunson open 3. For some reason Fox standing in middle of no where forcing him and Champ to get confused leave Brunson wide open.

Bryant misses a good look for 3.

Brunson makes a tough step back 3. Knicks up 102-93.

All the momentum was just fucked by taking out Champ and Castle for Bryant and Fox.

What you're saying is true, but Fox played 37:41 and Champ played 36:10, Spurs will never play anyone 40 minutes in the regular season, no matter what.

 

[ginobilized]

Some micro observations:

• Olynyk's minutes were huge and he was disruptive defensively
• Annunoby didn't go nuclear, and Brunson wasn't fully detonated. If that was the game plan, excellent! Make Clarkson and McBride beat us.
• We won the rebounding battle without Mitchell and Hart and that was huge. We still need some muscle and size inside.
• It was great to see Champagnie have the best night of his life, so far. Now, it's HB's turn.
• Turnovers were down which is encouraging
• Wemby's 31/13 in 23 mins was huge
• Mitch and crew stayed with the hot hand and pressed the right buttons down the stretch

 

[Fabbs]

Actually Castle played really bad in this game. Even in the 4th quarter. The offense he initiated in the absence of Wemby was bad and turned into quick transition points for Knicks.

NY had 3 3pters within a minute and a half.
Altho the one steal of Castle looked like an uncalled foul.

 

[Fabbs]

Kornet was huge man

That catch and putback of Harry's short airball was epic.

Did anyone want to strangle Harry after that late turnover?

 

[spursparker9]

 

[spursparker9]

That catch and putback of Harry's short airball was epic.

Did anyone want to strangle Harry after that late turnover?

IIRC, Grandpa Barnes received the ball quite late with shot clock winding down and the rest of teammates seem contented for him to go 1 on 1 from top of the key.

Was not expecting Barnes to score on that 1 on 1 but it was real fortunate that Korndog was there.

 

[BatManu20]

What a game. What a comeback. The energy inside Frost was awesome. Game ball goes to Jules of course, he saved our ass last night. Wemby was on pace for a 50-ball though. 31 Pts in 24 minutes on elite efficiency is ridiculous. Just glad he's alright though obviously.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006557306063097870

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006562481842565157

 

[Spurminator]

1-0 vs New York in games that matter

 

[Seventyniner]

Watching the 4th quarter again. Keldon at 3:15 and Fox at 1:15 were very close to committing 8 second violations. Fox seems to do this a lot. I hope that doesn't cost a game down the road.

 

[BatManu20]

Pretty funny tbh. Champ wanted nothing to do with the postgame drum celly

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006730348760281510

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006574962081964348

 

[spurs10]

Fuckin happy new year

You too and thank you, scott, Guru, and whoever else for the work on the BB site!! Happy New Year!

 

[ace3g]

 

[xellos88330]

Julian put the "J" in his name tonight!!! Helluva performance!!!

 

[Fabbs]

IIRC, Grandpa Barnes received the ball quite late with shot clock winding down and the rest of teammates seem contented for him to go 1 on 1 from top of the key.

Was not expecting Barnes to score on that 1 on 1 but it was real fortunate that Korndog was there.

Oh no. The turnover was another play.
Korndog gets a nice O rebound off a Fox miss then muscles it back up under the hoop in heavy traffic. Makes it:
124-121 Spurs 2:35 left.

Spurs then leave Bridges WIDE OPEN for a corner 3 but we luck out as he bricks. (Knicks had hit from the exact same spot and also wide open the previous possession.)
Harry gets the rebound and walks the ball up uncontested past half court. Knick starts to pressure him. He's taken about 7 dribbles and then Fox cuts across a Korny pick towards the FT elbow.
Harry launches a badly telegraphed pass that the Knick bats up and then catches himself for the turnover.
Like a defensive back reading the QB.

That play sucked balls.
Hey it's all good. Harry made a bunch of good plays all game and we got the W.

 

[scott]

I was eagerly awaiting the L2M report from last nights game for 3 specific calls:

1. Barnes foul on McBride shooting a 3
2. McCullars going over Champ's back to create a jump ball (and then stepping OOB)
3. Brunson lobbying for a foul on his buzzer 3 (which would have been irrelevant either way... also thought maybe Brunson stepped OOB)

L2M report says the refs made an incorrect call on #1. Barnes did not foul McBride. They say the other two were correct. https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0022500467

 

[1kangaroo]

The defense in the first half was abysmal. Same type of lazy shitty 3 point defense as we saw against the Jazz and the Cavs. Guys getting lost on switches and screens, just wide open 3s everywhere. Wemby standing in the paint not guarding anyone.

The defense in the first 9 minutes of the 3rd I thought was awesome. Turned a 10 point half time deficit into a 2 point lead 93-91. And it wasn’t the Knicks missing shots it was mostly due to the defense. Very few wide open 3s for the Knicks.

Then with 3:08 to go and the score at 93-91 Spurs Mitch subs out Champ and Castle for Bryant and Fox. Remember at this point Champ had 7 threes, Victor had 2 threes who was also on the bench at this time, and the rest of the team had 1 three combined from like 20 attempts.

Knicks would go on a 11-0 run to close the quarter. While it’s easy to blame Bryant for this he deserves some blame it wasn’t all his fault.

First possession Bryant firmly sticks his forearm into Clarkson body for about 5 seconds until Clarkson just rips through for an easy foul call. Mitch chews out Bryant. Puts the Spurs at the foul limit for no fucking reason. Gotta have better IQ than that.

Same possession Clarkson hits a 3 after Harper stumbles and gives him too much room. Knicks up 94-93. Btw I thought Harper defense was great all game minus a couple of minor mishaps like this one.

Harper misses a 3.

Kornet blocks a Clarkson layup.

Fox misses a 3 and Bryant ploughs through Brunson going to crash the glass. Spurs over the limit free throws for Brunson because Bryant’s earlier dumb foul on Clarkson put the Spurs in the penalty. Knicks up 96-93.

Mitch brings Champ back in for Harper realising his fuck up for taking him out.

Champ misses a 3.

Fox brain dead defense leads to a Brunson open 3. For some reason Fox standing in middle of no where forcing him and Champ to get confused leave Brunson wide open.

Bryant misses a good look for 3.

Brunson makes a tough step back 3. Knicks up 102-93.

All the momentum was just fucked by taking out Champ and Castle for Bryant and Fox.

That's been since game one they have these lapses on team defense. Seen players start ball watching at times, getting a little lazy expecting wemby to clean it up and he does a lot of times but they have bad habits of leaving 3pt shooters open to often that is on coaching IMO it is frustrating because at times we see great team defense. They need to get more consistent at defense but this is not surprising with such a young team