San Antonio SpursOpen full analysis
New York KnicksOpen full analysis
The New York Knicks dominated the San Antonio Spurs 114–89 on March 1 at Madison Square Garden, controlling the matchup from start to finish with a suffocating defensive effort. Mikal Bridges led New York with 25 points while Jalen Brunson added 24, powering an offense that shot 44.3 percent from the field and drained 17 three-pointers despite the game falling well short of the Vegas total of 227.5. The Knicks' defense was the decisive factor, holding San Antonio to 41.6 percent shooting and forcing 22 turnovers while posting a defensive rating of 90.2 compared to the Spurs' 113.6. New York's fourth-quarter surge—34 points—sealed the blowout after the teams traded runs through the first half. Victor Wembanyama paced San Antonio with 25 points and Devin Vassell contributed 18, but the Spurs' nine made threes and 25 assists couldn't overcome their offensive inefficiency and turnover troubles. The Knicks' 13 steals underscored their aggressive perimeter defense, a hallmark of their recent form heading into the playoff stretch.
