The New York Knicks suffered a 120-105 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, and head coach Tom Thibodeau did not hold back in his assessment.
“Defensively, we were a step behind. We got in a big hole. Tough to get out of,” Thibodeau said, per Philip Martinez of SNY. “Sometimes a guy can get hot. We got to make sure that he puts it down. Sandro had a great game, but we really didn’t take anything away.”
Sandro Mamukelashvili erupted for a career-high 34 points in just 19 minutes, setting an NBA record for the most points scored in under 20 minutes. He shot 13-for-14 from the field, including a perfect 7-for-7 from beyond the arc.
San Antonio (29-39) built an early 28-point lead behind Mamukelashvili’s 13 first-half points and seven rebounds. The Knicks (43-25) responded with a strong third quarter, cutting the deficit to single digits, but Mamukelashvili’s 21-point fourth quarter secured the win for the Spurs.
Thibodeau acknowledged New York’s defensive struggles, pointing to a lack of ball pressure in the first half. “When our ball pressure got better in the third quarter, then our defense picked up. That’s how we have to play. As I said, we were a step behind all night.”
Stephon Castle contributed 22 points, while Chris Paul added 12 points and nine assists for the Spurs, who have won three of their last eight games. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 32 points and nine rebounds, while OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges chipped in 14 points each.
The Knicks continue to struggle in the absence of Jalen Brunson, who remains sidelined with a sprained right ankle. They are now 3-3 since his injury.
Despite missing Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox due to season-ending injuries, the Spurs controlled the boards, outrebounding the Knicks 61-48. Mitchell Robinson provided a spark off the bench with 13 points and 11 rebounds in 17 minutes, but New York could not overcome its slow start.
San Antonio dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Knicks 38-23, including a decisive 30-7 run. Devin Vassell capped the stretch with a three-pointer that extended the lead to 61-35.
Jeremy Sochan returned to the Spurs’ starting lineup, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists. New York will look to regroup as they continue their push for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.
