Mikal Bridges led the New York Knicks to a 117-114 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter to help his team come from behind. Bridges and Victor Wembanyama combined for 26 points in a high-scoring final period, where both teams shot 57.5 percent (23-of-40).
Bridges finished with 41 points, setting a season-high. This was the second-most points by a Knicks player on Christmas Day, behind Bernard King’s 60 points in 1984.
It was also Bridges’ seventh 40-point game, and his first since scoring 42 points for the Brooklyn Nets on January 7, 2024. Wembanyama, in his Christmas debut, scored 42 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, and had four assists and blocks.
Miles McBride hit a key 3-pointer with 2:43 left, giving the Knicks the lead for good. This win was New York’s fifth straight, improving their record to 15-4 since November 15. Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 9 rebounds, just missing his 19th consecutive double-double. Josh Hart had 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson contributed 20 points.
For the Spurs, Jeremy Sochan scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Chris Paul finished with 13 points, and Devin Vassell added 11.
The last 14 minutes of the game were full of excitement. The Knicks ended the third quarter with a 10-0 run to take an 88-83 lead. The Spurs started the fourth with a 9-0 run, and Wembanyama outscored Bridges 7-6 in a stretch of 1:22, extending the Spurs’ lead to 102-94.
However, Bridges, Hart, and OG Anunoby responded with three consecutive 3-pointers. The teams exchanged the lead several times before Hart’s tip-in of a missed shot put the Knicks ahead 109-106.
Sochan later tied the game with a 3-pointer, but McBride’s basket gave the Knicks the lead again, starting an 8-2 run. Paul made a 25-foot shot with 42 seconds left, but Hart’s two offensive rebounds helped the Knicks run out the clock for the win.
