Knicks close out 2025 with rematch vs. Spurs,…
The Knicks close out the calendar yr with an NBA Cup closing rematch and another look at a potential NBA Finals preview.
They journey to San Antonio and face the Spurs for the third and closing leg of their highway journey Wednesday.
It was just two weeks in the past the Knicks toppled the Spurs 124-113 in the NBA Cup closing in Las Vegas.
The Knicks will close out 2025 with a rematch vs. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Despite their loss, the Spurs have been the most popular staff in the NBA after the Cup closing, profitable their next 5 video games.
Two of those wins got here against the Thunder — and they’d already crushed Oklahoma City in Vegas in the NBA Cup semifinals.
All of a sudden, the Spurs, not the Thunder, seemed like they could be the staff to beat in the West.
But they’ve come back down to earth a bit, with back-to-back losses against the Jazz and Cavaliers.
Victor Wembanyama, after lacking 12 video games with a calf injury, returned for the semifinal and closing in Vegas but stays on a minute restriction — he has not performed more than 28 minutes since coming back.
Mitchell Robinson, in specific, was efficient when guarding Wembanyama during the Cup closing. And Wembanyama’s behavior of aggressively searching for blocked pictures often left Robinson open to grab offensive rebounds.
Jalen Brunson drives past Micah Peavy during the Knicks’ win over the Pelicans on Dec. 29, 2025. AP
After lacking the Knicks win over the Pelicans on Monday in New Orleans for load management, though, Robinson is out again for Wednesday’s conflict.
Miles McBride returned for the Knicks during Monday’s recreation after lacking eight video games with an ankle injury.
He completed with 14 factors and was immediately thrust into the closing lineup.
It was his protection on Jordan Poole — navigating a screen and avoiding a foul on Poole, who was making an attempt to bait him into one — that sealed the win in the ultimate seconds.
“I’m always trusting in God and whatever he has planned for me,” McBride said. “He said I needed a little bit of rest, but I just wanted to come out here, do what I need to do to get back right. And get a win with the team.”
The Knicks protection has repeatedly began slowly. Across seven video games since their NBA Cup triumph, they’ve allowed opponents to rating an average of 34.1 factors in the first quarter.
The Pelicans scored 41 in the first quarter Monday.
“We understand how we started was unacceptable,” Jalen Brunson said. “And we got to figure out how to win a game from where we were. So we got a lot of confidence in each other. But we got to start better.”
McBride added: “We just have to come out with more energy and more respect.”
Josh Hart (ankle) and Landry Shamet (shoulder) stay out for the Knicks.
Ariel Hukporti (lip laceration) is questionable. Tyler Kolek (proper ankle soreness) is possible.
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