Victor Wembanyama had a Christmas debut for the ages.
It just wasn’t enough for a win at Madison Square Garden.
Mikal Bridges countered Wembanyama’s big game with a 41-point effort to lead New York past the San Antonio Spurs in a 117-114 Knicks win. The Knicks rode a 9-0 run to rally from a 102-94 deficit in the final seven minutes to secure the win.
New York overcame 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and 6 3-pointers from Wembanyama in the process. The effort was the third-highest score for a player in his Christmas Day debut, three points shy of Will Chamberlain’s record 45. He’s the first player to ever post 40-plus points, 15-plus rebounds and five-plus made 3-pointers in a Christmas game.
But the Knicks were the better team on Wednesday.
The game was back-and-forth from the opening tip as the Knicks opened a 28-27 first-quarter lead. Wembanyama overcame a 1-for-5 start from the field to post 24 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks with four 3-pointers in the first half as the Spurs took a 58-51 lead into the break.
Wembanyama kept up his 3-point onslaught in third quarter en route to a 6-of-16 effort from long distance.
But it was New York that took control in the third quarter to carry an 88-83 lead into the fourth. The Spurs countered with a 19-6 run to start the fourth to open an eight-point lead. But Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby countered with three consecutive Knicks 3-pointers to retake the lead at 103-102.
The lead changed four times from there before New York took control for good. Bridges helped secure the win with a drive and pull-up jumper from the wing with 1:18 remaining that put New York up 116-111.
The bucket was Bridges’ last of the game. He finished with 41 points, four assists and two blocks while shooting 6-of-9 from 3-point distance.
Karl-Anthony Towns battled with Wembanyama for much of the game and finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Jalen Brunson added 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Jeremy Sochan added 21 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, while Chris Paul tallied 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
It added up to an ideal Christmas gift for Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden. They got a show from one of the best players in the world and walked out of the arena celebrating a Knicks win.