Merry Christmas! Mikal Bridges & Knicks Win Amazing Game. NY 117 San Antonio 114

December 26, 2024 LouV 2024-25 0
Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

In one of the best, most intense regular season games in their history, the Knicks edged the Spurs 117-114 as Josh Hart grabbed 2 offensive rebounds in the final 38 seconds to continue a Knick possession and allow them to run out the clock for the win.

The game see-sawed back and forth all afternoon down to the final buzzer, as no matter what the Knicks did, they could not shake the great Victor Wembanyama, who was having a dominant game of the ages with 42 points on 16-31 shooting (6-16 from 3), 18 rebounds, and 4 blocks. He dwarfed the 7-foot Karl-Anthony Towns.

But in the end Mikal Bridges saved the Knicks — hitting shot after shot in the 4th quarter — from 3, or in the lane, or on snakes to the basket — for one of the great, clutch Christmas-day games in Knick history, scoring 41 points on 17-25 shooting (6-9 from 3).

As the buzzer sounded all Knick fans — those attending in person at a packed, jubilant Madison Square Garden for a noontime Christmas afternoon game, and those watching the National broadcast on ABC — were given a very Merry Christmas gift.

“Just go out there and try to make a play,” said Josh Hart afterwards about his 2 offensive rebounds in the final 30 seconds. “That possession is the definition of my job and why I’m here. To make those energy, extra effort plays.”

“Josh Hart doesn’t just put himself in position to win he also puts the Knicks in position to win with his effort, motor, and activity,” added NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Josh takes no play for granted, outworks you on the glass by wanting it more, 50/50 balls become 20/80 balls, finds the open man, defends and is fearless.”

NY improves to 20-10; San Antonio falls to 15-15.

1. Wemby Presence Alters Knick 3’s

You didn’t know it at the time, but Mikal Bridges gave notice that this would be a special day for him when he scored the first 7 points of the game on a 3 and two drives for a 7-2 Knick lead.

But San Antonio announced their presence too — with aggressive play led by athletic drives to the bucket by 6’8 Jeremy Sochan, the #9 pick in the 2022 draft who came in averaging 15.1 ppg, and the 6’5 Devin Vassell, the #11 pick in the 2020 draft who came in averaging 15.7 ppg. They both attacked the basket with vigor all afternoon.

Meanwhile Victor Wembanyama was using his supposed 7’3″ height which looks like 7’7″ height and quickness to alter Knick shots — both from 3 and inside. NY seemed to be second guessing their shots with Wemby in the vicinity.

“Good lord, he’s different,” said Josh Hart afterwards about Wemby.

KAT on Wemby

“He found a potion somewhere to be 7-5, 7-6,” said Karl-Anthony Towns afterwards. “I’m not as tall.” When told that Thibs said there were similarities between the two, Towns joked “I’m not as tall; I don’t know what similarities there are — he’s French I’m Dominican. I’m 7 feet; he’s way past 7 feet.”

On offense, Wembanyama got off to a slow start, missing his first four 3-pt attempts sandwiching an inside bucket — before finally hitting a 3 with 33 seconds left in the 1st quarter; NY held a 28-27 lead after 1. You could tell this was going to be a close game.

2. Knicks Do Not Close Half Well; Spurs by 7

Wemby started to dominate in the 2nd quarter, hitting his 3, and then scoring inside, and blocking shots. It started to look very scary for the Knicks as San Antonio took a 9-pt lead with 8:32 left in the quarter after a Wembanyama dunk inside.

But the Knicks battled back — Miles McBride hitting a big 3 to stop the Spurs momentum, then Josh Hart making a drive off a KAT assist and NY was back in it. Mikal Bridges scored inside off a Josh Hart assist, Precious Achiuwa hit a 3 and Jalen Brunson hit a drive and NY had the lead at 46-45.

But the Knicks didn’t close the half well — San Antonio did — Wemby hitting a drive inside, Jeremy Sochan blasting home a dunk on a drive, and Wemby hitting a 3 for a 58-51 San Antonio lead at intermission.

It again looked scary for NY — everything they were doing wasn’t enough against the 7’7 Wemby.

3. KAT Takes It to Wemby in 3rd

But the Knicks came out of the lockerroom and took it to the Spurs, most notably Karl-Anthony Towns powering to the bucket time and time again against Wemby.

KAT took it to the rim for four drives early in the 3rd, while Jalen Brunson added a drive, then KAT hit a 3 and NY re-took the lead, 66-64.

The dogfight continued to the end of the period; Julian Champagnie out of St John’s, who before the game was quoted that he wanted to make it clear he was NOT from Staten Island but from Brooklyn — hopefully not a racist remark — hit a 3 to put San Antonio back up by 5 pts with 2:30 left  in the 3rd.

This time NY did finish the quarter well — Deuce McBride free throws, a Bridges drive-and-1, Jalen Brunson free throws, and a Bridges 3 from the corner gave NY an 88-83 lead entering the 4th.

4. Spurs Re-Take Control at Start of 4th

But San Antonio came right back — Victor Wembanyama with a dunk inside, then another inside layup, a 3 by Champagnie, and a drive by Tre Jones gave San Antonio a 92-88 lead.

Mikal Bridges fired back with a 3 but consecutive alley-oop layups by Wembanyama put San Antonio up by 5.

Again Bridges fired back with a 3, but Wemby fired back with a 3 and a Jones drive put the Spurs up by 8, 102-94, with 7:16 left.

Again it was looking dark for NY — no matter what they did — Wemby was too big.

5. Bridges ON FIRE in 4th; Leads Knicks Back

But Mikal Bridges would NOT let NY down — hitting ANOTHER 3 to pull NY from the ropes and make it a 5-pt game.

OG Shuts Down Wemby

Another thing happened with 6.5 minutes left and NY down 5 — KAT picked up his 5th foul and was subbed out by OG Anunoby — who was assigned to guard Wembanyama. Wemby didn’t score another point the rest of the way.

A minute later, Bridges fed Josh Hart who hit an open 3 and NY was down by 2 with 5 minutes left.

More Bridges

Bridges then stole the ball from Vassell, and fed OG Anunoby who hit a Huge 3 and NY was back on top 103-102 with 4:56 left!

DOGFIGHT

Down the stretch it was an intense, intense, intense DOGFIGHT — with the lead going back and forth on each play before the packed Madison Square Garden crowd and National TV audience.

  • Chris Paul hit a pullup giving San Antonio back the lead, 104-103;
  • Precious Achiuwa hit a drive off a Bridges assist giving NY back the lead, 105-104!
  • Jeremy Sochan hit a drive giving San Antonio back the lead, 106-105;
  • Bridges hit a 15-foot step-back jumper giving NY back the lead; 107-106!
  • Wemby MISSED a 3, and down other end Hart got an offensive rebound off a Bridges miss to put NY up by 3!
  • Sochan hit a 3 to tie it;
  • McBride hit a 3 to put NY back up by 3, 112-109 with 2:43 left!
  • Chris Paul made free throws to pull the Spurs within 1;
  • Bridges hit ANOTHER clutch 10-footer to put NY up 114-111 with 1:59 left!

  • Wemby MISSED a 16-foot pullup against the maniac Knick D, Brunson grabbed the rebound, and fed Bridges who hit ANOTHER Clutch 10-footer — NY 116 San Antonio 111 with 1:18 left;

This was NUTS watching at home, screaming encouragement for the Knicks and MSG was ROCKING.

6. The Furious Finish

  • Tre Jones missed a drive against the tough Knick D, and Josh Hart made 1 of 2 free throws with a minute left to give NY a 117-111 lead.
  • But Chris Paul came down and hit a 3 and it was ballgame again with 41 seconds left — NY 117 San Antonio 114.

NY had to score to ice it, or San Antonio would get the ball back with a chance to tie.

After a timeout, NY got the ball to Brunson, who missed a jumper — but OG Anunoby slapped the ball away from a Spur and Josh Hart scrambled for the loose ball, coming up with a HUGE offensive rebound.

NY worked the clock and Anunoby took an off-balance 3 as the 24-second clock was running out, missing — but Josh Hart AGAIN dove for the loose ball snaring the offensive rebound — sending it out to Brunson as time expired. Ballgame.

 

Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas.

Bridges’ 41 points goes down as one of the legendary Knick performances on Christmas Day, along with Bernard King‘s 60 points in 1984, and rookie Patrick Ewing leading the Knicks to a win over Boston in 1985.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401704971

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