New York Knicks: Who Stepped Up Against The San Antonio Spurs?

Kristaps Porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis drew difficult assignments against the San Antonio Spurs from a one-on-one perspective. Fortunately, head coach Jeff Hornacek did an outstanding job of helping Porzingis cover less ground and spend more time protecting the rim.

With Porzingis anchoring the interior of the New York Knicks’ defense, San Antonio managed to score just 36 points in the paint.

Porzingis posted a solid 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting, which includes marks of 3-of-5 from 3-point range and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. He also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out two assists.

The numbers that defined Porzingis’ performance, however, were the four blocks and one steal that he recorded as New York’s defensive anchor.

Porzingis accumulated a +/- of +20 in his 37 minutes of action against the Spurs. The key to his success was a change in approach, as New York enabled him to play more along the interior on the defensive end of the floor instead of having him run out against shooters.

Porzingis is a walking mismatch on both ends of the floor, and against San Antonio, he proved exactly why he’s the future face of the franchise.