Nicely, the San Antonio Spurs didn’t have to attend too lengthy for a rematch with their NBA Cup Finals foes.
The Spurs are again at dwelling, with a more healthy Wemby in tow, and hopefully, an awesome thirst for vengeance. Okay, overwhelming is likely to be a bit a lot. I’d accept one thing alongside the strains of a greater than lukewarm thirst for vengeance. Truthfully, I’d be okay with only a thirst for vengeance, no adjectives wanted.
In any case, this can be a sport that really counts, and the Spurs have been scuffling a bit after the excessive of repeatedly embarrassing the league’s greatest crew within the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
They’re in want of a brand new pelt to hold on the wall, and the surging Knicks have cover to spare.
Each groups enter the competition with similar information. Each are 2nd of their respective conferences.
The Knickerbockers, nevertheless, are driving a three-game win streak and have solely misplaced two video games since December 2nd (an in depth loss to the Boston Celtics at dwelling), in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves (additionally enjoying at dwelling) and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Knicks are a very nasty downside for the Spurs, negating their benefits in rebounding (fifth to SA’s 4th), transition scoring (NY is simply exterior the highest 5 for lowest turnover proportion), and 2nd probability scoring (third to SA’s sixth), and sport a greater offensive and web score (third and fifth vs. sixth and seventh) besides.
Most concerningly (primarily based on season-long traits), the Knicks are 4th in 3-point proportion and third in three-pointers-made, which has been an Achilles heel for San Antonio’s in any other case miserly protection.
Fortunately, two of their sharpshooters can be out within the one, in addition to a key put up defender in Mitchell Robinson, so the offense ought to discover some room to drive, and the protection may have fewer three-point threats to give attention to.
Nonetheless, there’s no denying the Spurs have been in a little bit of a funk, as they’re 18th in scoring, fifteenth in offensive score, and twentieth in True Taking pictures Share over the past 5 video games, versus their season-long averages of seventh, sixth, and sixth.
Merely put, the ball has simply not been going within the hoop for the Silver and Black recently, and the protection can solely compensate for a lot. They’ll want to interrupt again out offensively within the course of their season averages, or the dropping streak is prone to drag on.
The excellent news is that the Knicks will not be a superb defensive crew. They’re sixteenth in defensive score on the season, and twenty second over the identical final 5 video games. They’re additionally seventeenth in Opponent Efficient Discipline Objective Share, which implies the Spurs ought to discover loads of room to let it fly.
It additionally doesn’t damage that two of the Knicks losses this month have come away from the Backyard.
So long as the Spurs can run the Knicks off the arc, exploit a susceptible inside, and restrict their very own turnovers, they need to have the ability to get a measure of revenge on this one.
Right here’s hoping they’re thirsty for it.
December thirty first, 2025 | 6:00 PM CT
Watch: FanDuel Southwest| Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Devin Vassell – Out (Leg Pressure), Stephon Fortress – Day-to-Day (Thumb Sprain)
Knicks Accidents: Mitchell Robinson – Out (Ankle), Josh Hart – Out (Ankle), Landry Shamet – Out (Shoulder), Tyler Kolek – Possible (Ankle), Ariel Hukporti – Questionable (Lip Laceration)
Earlier this season, I argued that a lot of San Antonio’s season would rely on the surface taking pictures of Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie, and that’s largely been true, however they’re not the one ones guilty for this current skid. Sure, they’re each taking pictures beneath their averages over the past 10 video games (32.7% and 29.6% vs. 39.4% and 35%), however so are the Spurs as an entire. The Spurs have been middling from long-distance this 12 months (which is an enchancment, truly), however they’re twenty second in three-pointers-made and twenty eighth(!) in three-point proportion over the past 5 video games, which is a nosedive even for them. A tough rain must fall, and the Knicks are a great location for some storm clouds. Escape your greatest rain dance, as a result of the Spurs are in want of help!
Alternatives For The Sidelined
Whereas the guard rotation seems to be to be in good arms with or with out Stephon Fortress, Devin Vassell’s absence opens up a chance for a ahead rotation that’s been fairly mild on possibilities so far. We noticed Lindy Waters, Carter Bryant, and Jeremy Sochan all get some run within the final contest, and I’d anticipate at the very least one in all them to see some elevated minutes right here. Ideally, that might be Sochan getting an opportunity to shake off no matter rust there could also be and show there’s nonetheless a spot for him, however don’t be shocked if you happen to see extra of Bryant, and even Kelly Olynyk, as Mitch Johnson has appeared decided to not make investments too closely in any one in all these choices. Both manner, it’s the primary time lineup area has opened up on this space for some time, so it must be attention-grabbing, and (I think about) hotly debated.
