Knicks Make Statement, Crush Spurs 114-89 at MSG

Knicks vs Spurs: The New York Knicks looked every bit like contenders again Sunday afternoon. In a dominant 114-89 win over the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks ended San Antonio’s 11-game winning streak and reminded the league just how dangerous they can be when everything clicks.

It didn’t start that way.

The Spurs, who entered the game riding an 11-game surge and looking like one of the West’s elite teams, jumped out to a 19-7 lead in the first quarter after a 3-pointer from Stephon Castle. For a moment, it felt like New York might relive its New Year’s Eve collapse against the same opponent.

Then Jalen Brunson flipped the script.

After missing his first three shots, Brunson caught fire late in the opening quarter. He scored the Knicks’ final 11 points of the period, including a 3-pointer that gave New York the lead.

In the middle of that stretch, Brunson drew a flagrant foul on Dylan Harper while attempting a 3. He hit two of three free throws, and after the Knicks retained possession, converted an and-one — also against Harper — in a rare five-point sequence.

That burst sparked a massive 26-2 run stretching into the second quarter.

The Knicks opened the second on an 11-0 run and built a 12-point cushion before the Spurs could regroup. The 19-0 unanswered stretch was San Antonio’s longest allowed this season.

The Knicks caught fire in the second quarter, hitting 52.2 percent of their shots and carrying a 10-point advantage into the break. From that point on, San Antonio couldn’t trim the deficit to fewer than eight points for the rest of the game.

Brunson finished with 24 points and seven assists, steadying the offense after its shaky start.

Mikal Bridges took over in the third.

The swingman delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season, pouring in a team-high 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting and 5-for-9 from deep. Fourteen of those points came in the third quarter as both teams traded baskets.

Bridges also made his presence felt defensively with five steals.

Midway through the fourth, he picked off a Harper pass and finished with a dunk to push the lead to 18. Moments later, he intercepted De’Aaron Fox and set up Landry Shamet for another slam, stretching the margin to 19 and effectively sealing the game.

Defensively, this may have been the Knicks’ best showing of the season.

San Antonio’s 89 points marked its lowest output of the year, six fewer than its previous season low. The Spurs shot just 41.6 percent from the field and 26.5 percent from 3-point range.

Victor Wembanyama, who has torched New York in past matchups, still finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds. But the Knicks forced him into seven turnovers and held him to just two points in the fourth quarter.

Karl-Anthony Towns started the game guarding Wembanyama before OG Anunoby took on the assignment during a second-quarter surge by the Spurs star. The defensive adjustments worked.

Towns had a quiet scoring night with 12 points on nine shots but grabbed 14 rebounds, including five offensive boards, for another double-double.

New York had six players score in double figures, including all five starters.

The Spurs’ talented backcourt trio of Castle, Devin Vassell and Fox — known for disrupting opposing guards — failed to rattle Brunson and the Knicks’ ball-handlers. San Antonio committed 22 turnovers overall.

The victory improved New York to 39-22 and marked the third time in four games they’ve held an opponent under 100 points.

After weeks of uneven play following their NBA Cup success, the Knicks looked like that team again — confident, connected and relentless.

Even Larry David, sitting courtside, got to witness what fans hope is a preview of something bigger.

If this version of the Knicks sticks around, the Eastern Conference race just got a lot more interesting.

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