Knicks vs. Spurs: How & Who to Watch With Revenge On the Line

The New York Knicks hit a rock bottom of sorts against the San Antonio Spurs last week. With a new winning streak underway, revenge looms on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Author:
Geoff Magliocchetti
Jan 4, 2023 1:47 PM EST

Some New York Knicks fans could say that a visit from the San Antonio Spurs is a chance to avenge the 1999 NBA Finals. Those on the Madison Square Garden hardwood likely have a more recent incident in mind.

The Knicks and Spurs will complete their yearly couple in the span of six days on Wednesday as San Antonio makes its annual visit to Manhattan. Struggling in the depths of the Western Conference, the Spurs took a 122-115 decision from the Knicks last Thursday night at AT&T Center, which pushed a New York losing streak to five.

Since then, the Knicks have won their ensuing two contests in dominant fashions, holding both the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns to fewer than 90 points in victories with a combined 39-point margin. The Knicks' defense hasn't had three such games in a row since December 2021. San Antonio, on the other hand, has fallen back into the hardwood mire, dropping their own last couple with the latter being a dreary 139-103 loss in Brooklyn on Monday.

What: San Antonio Spurs (12-25) @ New York Knicks (20-18)

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

When/Watch: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG/MSG Go

Who's Favored: NYK -9

Keep An Eye On: Jalen Brunson

Brunson returned to the floor on Monday following a three-game injury absence, headlining the Knicks' 19-point victory that was nowhere near as close as the final score indicated. Though Julius Randle once again handled the Knicks' high-scoring duties, Brunson put up 24 and six assists in front of his idol Chris Paul.

Even though Randle stole headlines for yet another victorious double-double, he credited Brunson for making his ongoing success and bounce back from a roller-coaster follow-up to his All-Star campaign much smoother than he could've ever possibly imagined.

"He’s just like this little six-foot point guard that lives in the lane and is strong, and he’s just annoying (to opponents)," Randle said, per Ian O'Connor of the New York Post. “He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” he said. “I can’t say enough (about) the chemistry and energy that he brings to the locker room.”

Brunson did not play in last week's loss in San Antonio but is well-versed with the Spurs' schtick thanks to his years in Dallas. The 14.9-point average he has earned over 13 games against the Spurs is his best against any Western Conference opponent.

Spur to Watch: Keldon Johnson

Johnson is perhaps, bar none, the best reason to tune into Spurs basketball in the near year. He's been on a tear during the post-Christmas slate, following up his 30-point outing against the Knicks with an equal output against the Dallas Mavericks two nights later.

As the Spurs celebrate their 50th anniversary, Johnson has earned one of the most notable Alamo accomplishments of all: sharing the same sentence as Tim Duncan David Robinson. After a 22-point, four-rebound showing against the Nets, Johnson and the championship duo stand as the only earner of both 3,000/1,000. Impressively, Johnson has done so in only 194 games.

Longtime Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has been most impressed with the way Johnson has developed an outside game. He was 3-of-8 when the Knicks and Spurs met up last week, though Wednesday's hosts have done a solid job of taking away the extra point.

"When he first came in he was kind of a bull in a china shop. He's gotten a lot more sophisticated," Popovich told KENS. "He's learned to shoot the three. He wasn't a three-point shooter when he came in. He's learned that ... He's learned to position when people are closing out on him. How to move. How to find space when he doesn't have the ball."

Prediction

With Brunson back in tow, there's a good wave of momentum surrounding the Knicks. Poor competition ... the Spurs' visit follows matchups with the reeling Rockets and a handicapped Suns team ... won't be enough to dilute the positive moment the team is feeling in the new year. The Knicks are a group that constantly plays up or down to its opponent but it's hard to see them getting swept by this reeling San Antonio group.