Brunson’s career 61 points night spoiled by Wembanyama in tough loss to Spurs

In what was probably the most exciting game of the season, against the San Antonio Spurs, the New York Knicks fell short in overtime, losing a nail-biter with a final score of 126-130. Despite a remarkable career-high performance from Jalen Brunson, who lit up the court with an astonishing 61 points on 25-47 shooting, the Knicks couldn’t secure the win.

“It’s great, but that s**t — excuse me — that stuff is washed out the window with a loss. So it doesn’t really matter.”

– Jalen Brunson

Brunson came tantalizingly close to breaking Carmelo Anthony‘s franchise record of 62 points, falling just two points shy. Meanwhile, the Spurs’ Victor Wenbanyama, the #1 pick in the draft, delivered a stellar performance of his own, notching a career-high 40 points, 20 rebounds, and 7 assists.

In a critical moment of overtime, Brunson attempted a 25-foot step-back jump shot for the win, but it rimmed out with just 5.1 seconds left on the clock. Precious Achiuwa managed to secure the rebound, but a hurried pass to Donte DiVincenzo caught him off guard, resulting in a turnover that ultimately cost the Knicks the game.

Wenbanyama drained a crucial three-pointer with 1:12 remaining, extending the Spurs’ lead to 128-124 and putting them in a favorable position to secure the victory. The game came down to the wire in overtime, with the Knicks having a chance to win it in regulation, but Miles McBride missed a crucial three-pointer before the buzzer.

The Knicks finally seized their first lead of the night with just 4 minutes and 39 seconds remaining in the game, as DiVincenzo drained a crucial 3-pointer, putting them ahead 113-112. From that moment onward, they managed to maintain their lead without relinquishing it until the extra time.

Despite trailing by as many as 21 points late in the second quarter, the Knicks mounted a fierce comeback in the third quarter, outscoring the Spurs 34-20 to tie the game at 83-83 with just 5 minutes remaining until the fourth quarter.

In the first half, the Knicks struggled defensively, allowing the youngest team in the NBA to score a staggering 74 points, putting them at a significant disadvantage heading into the halftime break.

Donte DiVincenzo had a standout performance with 20 points, including six three-pointers, while Josh Hart contributed with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. Mitchell Robinson made his presence felt in his second game since returning from injury, scoring 7 points off the bench and grabbing 12 rebounds, although he appeared to be limping in the closing minutes.

DiVincenzo also made history by breaking Evan Fournier‘s record for the most three-pointers scored in a season, reaching 245. On the Spurs side, Devin Vassell scored 23 points, followed by Keldon Johnson with 17 points and The Jones with 13 points.

With this loss, the Knicks dropped their third game against a team with a sub-.500 record, slipping back to the 4th place in the standings as the Cavaliers defeated the Sixers 117-114 on the same night.

Up-next: The Knicks (44-29) will host the Oklahoma City Thunder (51-22) on Sunday from 7:30pm.