Knicks Halt Spurs' 11-Game Winning Streak at MSG
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 114-89 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, ending the visitors' 11-game winning streak — the longest for the Spurs since the 2015-16 season.
Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 25 points and five steals. Jalen Brunson contributed 24 points. Karl-Anthony Towns added 12 points and 14 rebounds.
The Spurs once held a 12-point lead in the first quarter, but the Knicks turned the tide with a 26-2 run that spanned the first and second quarters. Victor Wembanyama scored 25 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and made four blocked shots — but it wasn't enough.
The Spurs committed 22 turnovers — a season-high — and shot just 26% from three-point range. The Knicks capitalized, converting these into 24 points.
Saigon Sentinel Analysis
The Spurs' 11-game winning streak was arguably the best story in the NBA throughout February. A young team, built around Victor Wembanyama — the French center only in his second year — suddenly became a formidable Western Conference playoff contender. Experts began discussing Wembanyama as the next generation's Nikola Jokić, perhaps even more.
But Sunday at Madison Square Garden served as a reminder to everyone: a young team is still a young team.
22 turnovers in a single game — those are not the numbers of a team ready to contend for a championship. The Spurs made youthful mistakes when faced with the Knicks' defensive pressure, especially from Mikal Bridges — a player many once thought the Knicks had overpaid for.
Bridges' performance last night wasn't just about scoring. His five steals and elite-level defense showcased the Bridges the Knicks invested so heavily in.
For the Knicks, this victory meant more than just stopping a winning streak. New York is in the race for a top-4 spot in the Eastern Conference, and a convincing 25-point win against one of the NBA's hottest teams is a positive sign.
Coach Mike Brown highlighted weak-side defense as a key factor — and he was right. When the Knicks locked down the Spurs' three-point shooting, forcing them to 26-27%, San Antonio's entire offense collapsed. Wembanyama still scored 25 points, but there was no one around him capable of sharing the offensive load.
Devin Vassell had 18 points, Stephon Castle 13 points — the only other two players to reach double digits. The rest of the Spurs' lineup was completely shut down by the Knicks.
Wembanyama will continue to be the NBA's brightest star in the years to come — no one doubts that. But San Antonio needs at least one to two more seasons to build a worthy roster around him. The 11-game winning streak was a promising step, not a championship declaration.
The Knicks, however, are different. They are hungry. MSG is buzzing. And Brunson along with Bridges are showing that they are the most formidable duo in the Eastern Conference this season.