As the final seconds of 2025 ticked away, the San Antonio Spurs delivered a finish worthy of New Year’s Eve, rallying from a 19-point deficit to stun the New York Knicks 134–132 on Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center. Using a relentless second-half surge and solid execution in the fin al minutes, the Spurs fought back in a game that seemed to be slipping away and closed the year with one of their most thrilling wins of the season. New York controlled much of the night, building a comfortable lead behind Jalen Brunson’s 29-point night as well as a balanced offensive attack. They pushed the pace early and took advantage of San Antonio turnovers, entering halftime with momentum and extending the advantage into the third quarter. Victor Wembanyama kept the Spurs within striking distance, pouring in 31 points and 13 rebounds through three quarters. But the night took a tense turn early in the fourth when Wembanyama exited after landing awkwardly on his left leg, leaving San Antonio without its star for the final stretch. However, instead of fading, the Spurs surged. “I thought we were not very good for a lot of stretches,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said. “The competitive response and the energy we were putting as the game went on into the right areas, we felt it. That team [Knicks] is very physical and competitive. If you don’t match that along with sharp execution, they can systematically wear you down at times…. I was extremely proud of the guys that stepped up tonight, especially that group in the fourth quarter.” Julian Champagnie was huge reason for the win, erupting for a career night and finishing with 36 points and making a franchise record 11 three-pointers. De’Aaron Fox added 26 points and seven assists, spearheading a furious comeback. San Antonio tightened defensively, forced New York into mistakes, and steadily chipped away as the crowd sensed a late-night rally brewing. “I just keep shooting the basketball,” a smiling Champagnie told reporters after the game. “Basketball gods, that’s what Coach Pop always said. Coming into the game, I told myself to chill and shoot the ball.” The Spurs finally pulled even in the closing minutes before taking the lead in a frantic final moments of the game. A key offensive rebound and putback by Luke Kornet swung momentum, and Keldon Johnson delivered under pressure, knocking down two critical free throws after drawing a loose-ball foul. That play resulted in Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns fouling out, removing a key paint presence in crunch time. New York had one last chance to spoil the celebration, but San Antonio held on as the buzzer sounded, setting off a roar that felt as much like a countdown to the new year as a victory. Johnson finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, providing steady production throughout, while the Spurs’ resilience defined the night more than any single stat. As fans headed toward their New Year’s Eve celebrations and the clock approaching midnight, the Spurs closed the calendar year with a statement — a reminder that no lead is safe and that sometimes the best way to welcome a new year is with a comeback worth remembering. “This wasn’t a game that was given to us. We had to go get it,” Wembanyama said. “Julian was amazing. To see the energy from Keldon at the end and to see the fans behind us, it was pretty cool.” Game notes: During a timeout, the H-E-B Beach Ball Drop contestant had three balls go through his hands and fell down three times. As someone who has played this exact game (there’s a video somewhere on YouTube), this is really tough! Props to him on winning $100. ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed Wembanyama suffered a “a slight hyperextension in his left knee” and avoided major injury. That is very good news for Spurs fans, who feared the worst. Wemby himself also said he didn’t expect to miss time (not that it’s entirely up to him). Spurs star Victor Wembanyama suffered a slight hyperextension in his left knee in tonight's win over New York — and initial tests came back negative and showed no major injury.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 1, 2026 Luke Kornet had seven points, four assists and nine rebounds on the night. He is continues to show how he is the best backup big man in the league and he seemlessly has fit into this Spurs system. Harrison Barnes’ struggles continued on Wedensday, but he did have a better night than Monday. He finished with seven points, six rebounds, and four assists. Let’s hope 2026 brings Harrison getting out of his funk! Coach Johnson said the team is still awaiting additional tests on Devin Vassell’s groin strain but he’ll be out “more than a game or two.” ...read more read less