The Knicks battled hard before losing to the well-oiled basketball machine that is the San Antonio Spurs, 94-84. It was a competitive contest, from which Derek Fisher’s club could draw plenty of positives as they continue to build on a spirited start to the season.
But as Kristaps Porzingis went down hard with 2:48 to play, the mood in the building went south. The No. 4 overall pick was in the midst of his best game as a pro before getting tangled up under the basket and eventually heading to the locker room. The rookie finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks before exiting with an apparent head or neck injury. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.
Porzingis asserted himself early, with six boards in the opening frame as New York took a 21-18 lead into the 2nd quarter. Kawhi Leonard played suffocating defense on Carmelo Anthony, but the Knicks’ All-Star was able to get to the line 12 times, making 10. Melo scored 10 of his 19 points in the 3rd as New York closed on a 7-2 run over the quarter’s final three minutes to cut the lead to 70-65.
San Antonio would open up a double-digit lead to clinch the victory, but Fisher would get another solid night from the bench — led by Jerian Grant’s 12 points and 5 rebounds.
