Julian Champagnie poured in career-high 36 points and set a team record with 11 3-pointers as the host San Antonio Spurs roared from behind to beat the New York Knicks 134-132 on Wednesday in a rematch of the NBA Cup final.
San Antonio snapped a two-game losing streak, but the victory might prove costly. Star center Victor Wembanyama was forced from the contest due to a left leg injury with 10:32 to play and did not return to the court.
Wembanyama racked up 31 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes of play before coming down awkwardly on his left leg while attempting to secure an offensive rebound. He stayed down until teammate Stephon Castle helped him up, then hobbled his way to straight to the locker room.
Wembanyama was making his ninth appearance and third start since missing 12 games with a calf injury. He returned to the bench dressed in warmups for the final seconds of the game to urge his teammates to the finish line.
After trailing by as many as 19 points in the second quarter, the Spurs rode the torrid outside shooting of Champagnie. The last of his 3-pointers came with 4:34 left, tying the score 116-116. Two free throws by De’Aaron Fox just under a minute later put the Spurs in front for good.
A putback layup by Luke Kornet with 49.2 seconds left stoked San Antonio’s lead to three points, and Keldon Johnson followed an offensive rebound and two free throws to make it 128-123. Jalen Brunson canned a second-chance step back 3-pointer with 26.1 seconds to play, bringing New York within two.
However, San Antonio made all six of its free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
Fox contributed 26 points for the Spurs, and Johnson scored 19.
Brunson led the Knicks with 29 points and eight assists. Miles McBride added 21 points, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordan Clarkson hit for 20 each and Mikal Bridges tallied 13 as New York had a three-game winning streak snapped.
The Knicks carried a 73-63 lead into halftime. Towns’ 15 points led New York in the first half, while Brunson and Clarkson added 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Wembanyama racked up 22 points and took eight rebounds before halftime. Champagnie had 12 and Fox 11 in the opening two quarters.
