Knicks end Spurs' 11-game winning streak with early surge leading to decisive 114-89 victory

After going undefeated in February, the San Antonio Spurs began March with a loss. The Spurs' 11-game winning streak ended on Sunday at Madison Square Garden with a defeat to the New York Knicks. 

Initially, San Antonio appeared to be on its way to a 12th consecutive win. The Spurs took a 19-7 lead in the first quarter on a Stephon Castle 3-pointer with 4:56 remaining in the frame and looked like they were in full control. 

However, the game then took a 180-degree turn. Jalen Brunson scored New York's final 11 points of the first, putting the Knicks on top with a 3. Brunson's outburst was part of a 26-2 Knicks run that ended with Mikal Bridges getting a fast-break dunk off a Victor Wembanyama miss, resulting in a 33-21 lead. 

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San Antonio scored the final five points of the first half to close the Knicks' lead to 51-41, and cut the deficit to eight points to begin the third quarter. But every time the Spurs tried to start a rally, New York quickly answered with a basket to maintain a double-digit lead. 

Playing the fourth game of a five-game road trip, the Spurs seemed to finally run out of fuel in the fourth quarter and the Knicks capitalized, going on a 17-6 run to begin the closing 12 minutes. A 3-pointer from Landry Shamet essentially put the game out of reach, giving New York a 104-82 lead with 3:37 remaining. 

From there, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson pulled his starters from the game and emptied the bench.  

Bridges led the Knicks with 25 points (hitting 5-of-9 3-pointers), along with 5 rebounds and 5 steals. Brunson added 24 points with 4 rebounds and 7 assists. Mohamed Diawara provided a surprise off the bench with 14 points (knocking down 4-of-13 3-point tries). 

Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each scored 12 points, but struggled against Wembanyama near the basket. Towns also grabbed 14 boards.

The win boosted the Knicks' record to 39-22, keeping them close to the Boston Celtics (39-22 going into their Sunday night matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers) for the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference. New York has won four of its past five games and 14 of its past 18. The Knicks face the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday before matchups versus the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets later in the week.

Wembanyama scored 25 points for the Spurs, adding 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. Devin Vassell followed with 18 points and 7 rebounds, but Castle was the only other San Antonio player to score in double figures. 

Three-point shooting was a major asset for the Spurs during their 11-game winning streak, but they struggled from long range on Sunday. San Antonio shot only 26% (9-for-34) on 3-point tries, and Vassell was the only Spur to hit more than one, going 3-for-9. 

The Spurs finish their Eastern road trip on Tuesday versus the 76ers and then begin a six-game homestand against the Detroit Pistons, who they defeated last week, 114-103, in arguably the most impressive win during their 11-game streak.