Devin Vassell and the Spurs lost to the Knicks (Photo via X)
The San Antonio Spurs saw their 11-game winning streak come to a crashing halt against the New York Knicks. The Spurs got off to a good start but the Knicks responded with a run to end the first quarter. New York continued rolling into the second quarter and soon the game was over.
San Antonio turned the ball over 22 times, shot poorly from three-point range and lacked energy as a team. That was the recipe for a 114-89 defeat that dropped their record on the season to 43-17.
Stats: Spurs at Knicks
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Spurs at Knicks – Final Grades
Victor Wembanyama
Considering that Wembanyama has been struggling recently, the outing against the Knicks was a step in the right direction. But only a small step. He still struggled in a lot of ways. He was 1-for-7 from deep, turned the ball over seven times and never played with enough sustained vivacity to turn the tide. All that said, Wembanyama still produced. He was 7-for-10 from two-point range, 8-for-9 at the free throw line, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked four shots. But despite some impressive numbers, this was one of the rare times that the superstar Frenchman wasn’t a substantial difference-maker.
Grade: C-
De’Aaron Fox
With the good guys circling the drain, it would have been helpful if Fox stepped up and carried a larger than usual role. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. He mostly stayed on the perimeter and finished 1-for-6 from three-point range. He attempted only four two-point attempts and didn’t get to the free throw line. His playmaking was decent (six assists, two turnovers) but his lackluster offense and substandard defense left a lot to be desired.
Grade: D+
Stephon Castle
Early on, it appeared as if Castle could win this game for San Antonio on the defensive end. He was shutting down Brunson for much of the first quarter. Regrettably, Brunson popped off after Castle went to the bench and any momentum the Spurs had in that regard was lost. For the rest of the game, Castle tried hard on defense but his impact was minimal. Offensively, he lacked efficiency from all depths. While he did well to finish without a turnover, Castle also only had four assists.
Grade: C+
Devin Vassell
Welp, Vassell was the lone brightspot in the starting lineup. He was 4-for-5 on twos, 3-for-9 on threes and looked sharp on the offensive end. While he wasn’t as hot as he was in the previous three games, the Spurs would have been in hot water without Vassell’s production. I also liked the effort he gave on the defensive end and his all-around hustle.
Grade: B+
Julian Champagnie
Champagnie just never got going. He scored only three points in 24 minutes of action. He has been a reliable sharpshooter as of late but didn’t do much of note in New York. Even his defense and rebounding was nothing to write home about. Let’s hope Champagnie gets back on track quickly because the game is far more difficult for the Spurs when he’s not actively spacing the floor.
Grade: D+
Dylan Harper
Eh, Harper had his moments. In his last NBA game as a teenager, there were a few impressive drives to the cup and a few really heady passes. The rookie was also active on the defensive end. Harper was unable to shift the momentum but there were stretches where his playmaking was the best thing the Spurs had going.
Grade: B
Keldon Johnson
When the going gets tough, Johnson has reliably stepped up for the Spurs. Sadly, that didn’t happen versus the Knicks. Instead, Johnson joined the doldrums. He had three points in 17 minutes, didn’t make a mark in the rebounding department and wasn’t making plays for his teammates. Johnson was also a nothingburger on the defensive end.
Grade: D+
Harrison Barnes
Three points and no rebounds in 17 minutes is not a good day’s work for Barnes. Add in two turnovers and general malaise and this was another chapter in the veteran’s slump. If he doesn’t turn it around soon, Barnes may find himself on the outside of the rotation.
Grade: D
Luke Kornet
Kornet is another player who had an afternoon to forget. He had three turnovers in only 11 minutes, got beat rebounding-wise too often and didn’t hit a shot from the floor. Kornet is usually able to hold down the fort but he fumbled to the point that things went from bad to worse when he was on the court.
Grade: D
Mitch Johnson
Coach Mitch couldn’t find any answers against the Knicks. Worse yet, there weren’t many signs that he was even looking for answers. His decision to not stick with Castle on Brunson really hurt San Antonio’s chances. The playcalling was also unimaginative.
Grade: D