Sandro Mamukelashvili, drafted 54th overall in 2021 by the Pacers and traded to the Bucks, spent his first two NBA seasons splitting time between Milwaukee and their G League affiliate. In 2023, the San Antonio Spurs (28-39) claimed him off waivers. This season, he has averaged five points and 2.4 rebounds in 46 games.
Tonight against the Knicks (43-24), the 6’11”, 240 Seton Hall product scored a career-high 34 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal. He shot 13-of-14, including all seven attempts from downtown. He led all scorers and did it in 19 minutes of gameplay. Which NBA team is gonna give this kid Isaiah Hartenstein money?
The story of the game? Well, the first quarter stunk. The second quarter really stunk. In the first half, Mitchell Robinson outscored all starters, save Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 32 points and nine rebounds. New York ratcheted up the defense to win the third quarter, 29-16, and a miracle rally looked possible. But a 28-point hole was too much for our heroes, and they succumbed to Sandro by midway through the fourth. Final score, 120-105.
As Unmitigated Gall so delicately put it: “That game was like puking and sharting at the exact same time.”
After awful performances in the first half, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby both finished with 14 points, both made five field goals. Miles McBride couldn’t hit the rim before halftime but came around to score 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting. And Josh Hart took four shots to finish with . . . two points. He looked like a player who has been away from home for a long, long time.
How about that Mitchell Robinson? A 13-point, 11-rebound double-double. Looking good, big fella!
First Half
Karl-Anthony Towns made four straight buckets and all nine of New York’s initial points. After that thrilling start, our heroes fell on their faces. They shot 4-of-25 (including nine missed three-pointers). Starters Miles McBride, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby combined to miss 14 shots during that putrid stretch. How gruesome was the quarter? Mitchell Robinson’s four points outscored the combined total of Bridges, McBride, Anunoby, and Josh Hart. In fact, Josh attempted zero shots in his first eight minutes. Hand, scratch head.
Meanwhile, San Antonio jumped out to a 13-point lead, powered by Harrison Barnes and Stephon Castle. Even AARP member Chris Paul got in on the fun, scoring eight straight while New York spun their wheels in the mud. When the curtain closed on Q1, SA was ahead of NY, 29-20.
New York’s second unit offered little help, as the Spurs enjoyed a twenty-something-to-two run in the heart of the second quarter. Some dude named Sandro Mamukelashvili came off the Spurs’ bench to score 13 points. A hot dog vendor dunked. Somewhere, Tracy Morgan puked while New York fell behind by 28 to a team that won seven of their last 20 games. The Knicks’ defense, which had been superb in recent games, forgot to board the plane from NYC. Halftime score: 67-43.
In can-this-really-get-any-worse news, Karl-Anthony Towns injured his thumb and/or wrist during this disaster of a first half. In obvious pain, he retreated to the locker room briefly and spent time receiving treatment on the bench. By intermission, Towns led the team in scoring. Its second-leading scorer? Mitch with six points. Aside from KAT, the starting unit combined to shoot 3-of-24. . . . New York lost the boards by 10, points in the paint by 10, and fast break points by nine. One of the worst halves of the season, folks.
Second Half
Bridges and the crew enjoyed espressos at halftime, and started the third quarter with wide-eyed energy and improved dignity. Hart was dishing, Mikal, OG, and KAT made big buckets, and their defense tightened up. A 22-3 run to cut their deficit to eight by midway through the quarter.
Don’t get too excited. After that, the Spurs scored ten consecutive, including contributions by Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Julian Champagnie. Thanks to buckets from McBride and Landry Shamet, the Knicks fought back to close the quarter down 83-72. Tough defense limited San Antonio to just 16 points in the period!
To start the final frame, the home team outscored the visitors 8-1. Thibs decided to try the twin-towers lineup of Towns and Robinson, a strategy that paid dividends. Mitch dunked twice as New York enjoyed an 8-2 run of their own. Trading mini-runs wouldn’t win the game, though. The Knicks needed scoring and stops.
Stops like when Mitch swatted back Jeremy Sochan! Scores like when Cameron Payne and Anunoby cashed in three-pointers! New York came within nine points with five minutes left, but that Sandro cat, man. He just kept pouring it on. As the Knicks’ hopes dwindled the stretch, PJ Tucker made his Knicks debut. Meh.
Up Next
Shake it off. Onward to Charlotte for tomorrow’s game. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
Box Score