NEW YORK — Asked earlier than the sport about his group’s victory over the Knicks final week, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was fast to notice that Jalen Brunson did not play.
What a distinction he made within the rematch.
Brunson scored a career-high 38 factors, Julius Randle had 25 factors and 13 rebounds, and New York beat San Antonio 117-114 on Wednesday night time.
Brunson added seven rebounds and 6 assists for the Knicks, who received their third straight since a 122-115 loss in San Antonio final Thursday.
“He’s got it all,” Popovich mentioned. “He’s got the skill, but he’s got the toughness. He’s got the basketball IQ to go with it. Just a hell of a competitor.”
Brunson missed three video games final week with a sore proper hip, however returned with 24 factors in a victory over Phoenix on Monday. He made the massive performs late on this one to surpass his earlier regular-season better of 34 factors.
“Whatever it takes to win,” Brunson mentioned. “I could have 38 or I could have three points. If we win that’s all I really care about.”
Brunson made the go-ahead basket with 3:02 to play, then knocked down a pair of jumpers to push the result in 116-112 with 1:17 to go.
The Spurs minimize it to 2 and compelled the ball out of Brunson’s palms to regain possession with an opportunity to tie, however they have been referred to as for a 5-second violation attempting to get the ball in with 5.7 seconds remaining. Evan Fournier made one free throw to make it 117-114, however the Spurs could not get off a final 3-point try in time.
“The bottom line is getting the win,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “We’ve just got to scratch wins out.”
Keldon Johnson scored 26 factors for the Spurs, and Josh Richardson had 20. Zach Collins added 16 factors and Doug McDermott completed with 15, however the Spurs gave up 25 second-chance factors.
The Knicks led by 13 within the first quarter earlier than settling for a 39-29 benefit. The Spurs charged forward with a 13-0 run within the second to go forward 44-41, however the Knicks recovered and have been up 62-55 after Brunson had two baskets within the last 35 seconds of the primary half.
Both groups shot higher than 60% within the third quarter, with Randle’s jumper as time expired making it 94-89.
TIP-INS
Spurs: G Devin Vassell was out once more due to left knee soreness. He performed Monday after lacking the earlier two video games for a similar downside. … The Spurs practiced at Baruch College whereas within the metropolis and Popovich joked he regarded for an image of U.S. Rep.-elect George Santos within the gymnasium. Santos has admitted to mendacity about having earned a level in finance and economics on the college. “I thought maybe he had played sports or something while he was there,” Popovich mentioned. “Because that’s where he went to school, right?”
Knicks: Obi Toppin and Derrick Rose have been energetic however didn’t play. Toppin had been inactive the earlier 13 video games due to a nondisplaced fracture of his proper fibula. Thibodeau mentioned he wanted to do extra at observe earlier than he was able to get right into a recreation. Thibodeau mentioned the backup ahead would play when prepared, however stopped wanting assuring a return to his earlier minutes, with Randle flourishing with a heavier workload.
PACKING THE PLACE
The Spurs mentioned greater than 53,000 tickets have been bought for his or her Jan. 13 recreation on the Alamodome towards Golden State, guaranteeing it to be the third-largest attendance for an NBA recreation. The file is 62,046 on the Georgia Dome for a Bulls-Hawks recreation on March 27, 1998.
UP NEXT
Spurs:Â Host Detroit on Friday.
Knicks: At Toronto on Friday.