Displaying a solid and sensible game, a rejuvenated San Antonio Spurs thrashed an out of form New York Knicks 120-89 to register their fourth consecutive victory on Sunday. In the process, the Spurs also gave their coach Gregg Popovich, who wanted his team to play better basketball, what he was looking for.

“I thought tonight we played a good, solid B+, A- game…. there were some good things out there”, a beaming Popovich said soon after the Spurs ran the Knicks out of steam. Only on Sunday morning, the coach had lamented the lack of improvement shown by his players, describing their style of playing as only C+ or B-. He had also said that he was not happy with the manner in which his team started a game.

With 24 points and a career-best 10 rebounds, it was Danny Green who shone for the winners. Following Green close on his heels were Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker with 18 and 17 points respectively. What made the real difference between both the teams is that while the Knicks failed to hold an upper hand at any stage, the Spurs remained in total control of the game whenever it mattered.

For the losers, Carmelo Anthony and Andrea Bargnani scored 16 points each, while their guard J.R. Smith’s poor show remained a cause for concern.

“Embarrassing” Loss

Looking upset with his boys’ below-par performance, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said what hurt him the most was the poor commitment shown by the players.

Echoing similar views, Anthony admitted that the outcome was quite an embarrassment. “It was embarrassing for us to come here on our home court and lose a game like this”, he said, adding “it wasn’t about losing the game, it was just how we lost the game. We didn’t compete today and it showed out there on the court.”

Anthony went on to add that he wasn’t perturbed, but it was important to analyze the reasons for the dismal show. “I’m not worried but we do have to figure it out.Whatever it is we have to figure out quickly, but as far as being worried, I’m not worried about that. But we need to figure it out”, the Knicks forward observed.

Lack of Drive from New York

Green’s two 3-pointers were supplemented by one from Marco Belinelli that enabled the Spurs to witness a sound start (17-4). The winners also happened to come across their highest-scoring period of the season, hitting 13 of 18 shots to record a useful 35-17 lead. The picture remained very much the same in the second quarter with the Spurs establishing a convincing lead of 24 points.

Although Smith turned in a 3-pointer with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter, the Knicks were trailing way behind. With San Antonio continuing to develop on their lead, it appeared that New York were getting ready for the inevitable. It was also hard to believe that the Knicks had beaten the Spurs on two occasions during the last season, notwithstanding the fact that they are now handicapped by the absence of Tyson Chandler who had to sit out on account of a broken leg.

The result must have definitely given the Spurs the kind of confidence they require when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers in their next encounter.