Mikal Bridges erupted for a season-high 41 points, propelling the New York Knicks to a hard-fought 117-114 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Christmas Day. Despite a historic performance by Victor Wembanyama, the Knicks secured their fifth consecutive win to improve to 20-10.
Bridges shot an efficient 17-for-25 from the field and sank six three-pointers to lead the Knicks. His clutch jumpers in the final moments sealed the win after the Spurs closed the gap to one point with two minutes remaining.
Victor Wembanyama, making his Christmas Day debut, delivered a monstrous performance for San Antonio. The rookie sensation scored 42 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, and blocked four shots, breaking the Spurs’ Christmas scoring record previously held by LaMarcus Aldridge.
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 21 points and nine rebounds for New York, while Jalen Brunson added 20 points and nine assists. Josh Hart recorded a double-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, including two critical offensive rebounds in the final seconds to secure the win.
Jeremy Sochan was San Antonio’s second-leading scorer, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds. Chris Paul chipped in 13 points and seven assists, but the Spurs’ inability to control the boards, giving up 17 offensive rebounds, proved costly.
The Knicks held a slim lead throughout much of the game, with Bridges shouldering the offensive load in a contest marked by back-and-forth runs. Wembanyama kept the Spurs within striking distance, but New York’s defensive efforts and second-chance opportunities made the difference.
With this victory, the Knicks remain fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and continue to build momentum during their winning streak. Meanwhile, the Spurs, now 15-15, will look to regroup after a tough loss that highlighted both their potential and their areas for improvement.
