The New York Knicks leaned on a lockdown defense Sunday night, overpowering the San Antonio Spurs 114–89 at Madison Square Garden and halting the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak.
Head coach Mike Brown praised the collective effort a day later, calling it “high level.” “We had five guys on a string,” Brown said, according to ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill. “Even the games we haven’t scored a lot of points, our defense has gotten better.”
New York limited San Antonio to 26.5 percent shooting from three-point range and forced 22 turnovers. Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama posted 25 points and 13 rebounds but was tagged for seven giveaways.
Josh Hart emphasized that the team’s mindset must stay on that end of the floor. “We have to continue to make strides defensively,” the forward said. “It can’t be up and down.”
Mikal Bridges spearheaded the two-way surge, recording 25 points and five steals. “We have a lot of guys who can score,” Bridges noted. “But I try to control what I can control, and that’s bring energy on both ends.”
Over the past month, the Knicks rank among the NBA’s top teams in defensive rating, a trend Sunday’s performance only reinforced.
Source: Hoops Wire
