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Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Dec. 25

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Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Dec. 25

Christmas Day Schedule 🎄

Knicks 117, Spurs 114

Minnesota at Dallas (Live on ABC, ESPN, Disney+, ESPN+)

Philadelphia at Boston (5:00 ET, ABC, ESPN, Disney+, ESPN+)

Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State (8:00 ET, ABC, ESPN, Disney+, ESPN+)

Denver at Phoenix (10:30 ET, ABC, ESPN, Disney+, ESPN+)

Dallas scrapping, Dončić exits early

Luka Dončić (left calf strain) was forced to exit Wednesday’s contest after 16 minutes of action, finishing with 14 points (5-9 FG), five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Dallas finds itself in a perilous position entering the second half down 57-40.

Minutes into the third quarter, Kyrie Irving leads all scorers with 18 points, while Anthony Edwards (15 points), Julius Randle (15 points), and Rudy Gobert (14 points) lead a balanced scoring attack for Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards Mic’d Up🔊🔊

Edwards leads Minnesota with eight points, countered by 11 (4-7 FG, 3-5 3PM) from Luka Dončić as Dallas has a 21-19 lead with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. This Christmas Day rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals is a top budding rivalry in the Association.

Bridges takes over. Knicks win after hectic final possession

Mikal Bridges finished with 41 points (17-25 FG, 6-9 3PM) on remarkable efficiency, guiding New York to a 117-114 victory in a contest that featured 14 lead changes. Bridges joins Bernard King (60 points) and Richie Guerin (40 points) as the only Knicks to score 40+ points on Christmas.

Victor Wembanyama shined (42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, four blocks), but New York’s ensemble cast, starring Karl-Anthony Towls (21 points, nine rebounds) and Jalen Brunson (20 points, nine assists), committed just five turnovers as a team — representing the third fewest total of any game this season.

Wemby and Bridges dueling

Wembanyama and Mikal Bridges are trading threes in MSG, as each of them have knocked down six triples on the afternoon. Wemby has 42 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and four blocks and becomes the third player to record 40+ points in his Christmas Day debut.

Mikal Bridges has kept the Knicks within striking distance by dropping a season-high 35 points (14-19 FG, 6-8 3PT) in 38 minutes. Josh Hart nails a three and forces a timeout from the Spurs, as San Antonio leads 102-100 with 5:16 remaining in the game.

Fourth block for the 👽

Wemby tallies his fourth block after a coach’s challenge from the Spurs overturns a Jalen Brunson floater that was called for goaltending initially. The Knicks use a 10-0 run to end the third quarter and take the 88-83 lead going into the final frame.

Tune in on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ and ESPN+ to catch the exciting finish in New York.

Wemby drills 5th 👌

Wembanyama knocks down his fifth triple to give him 31 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, a steal and four blocks in 29 minutes in his Christmas debut. The Spurs are shooting 42.9% from three while the Knicks have been held to just 24%.

We’ve got ourselves a ball game, folks. San Antonio and New York are tied at 83 with less than a minute to go in the third quarter.

KAT in attack mode 💪

Karl-Anthony Towns leads a 15-6 charge to take the lead back for the Knicks to start the third quarter. KAT has 21 points and nine rebounds as the first game on Christmas is a close one. Knicks lead 78-77 with 3:36 left in the third.

Ten ties and 14 lead changes. Put this game on right now!

Castle with authority 😤

Stephon Castle doesn’t hesitate and goes right through Jalen Brunson for the Christmas Day slam. The fourth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has six points off the bench to help the Spurs grab a 58-51 lead going into halftime.

Victor Wembanyama has a double-double in less than 20 minutes with 24 points (9-18 FG, 4-10 3PT), 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Mikal Bridges paces the Knicks with 16 points (7-9 FG, 2-2 3PT).

KAT no-look dish 🤩

KAT finds Josh Hart underneath for the easy layup. Hart has done a little bit of everything with six points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal in 14 minutes.

New York and San Antonio are putting on a show, as the game has seen four ties and eight lead changes already. Knicks have a 49-47 lead with 3:20 to go before halftime.

Wemby from the logo 👀

The Spurs phenom drills his second triple of the opening quarter from the Knicks logo, putting him up to ten points already. New York shoots 39% from the field but holds onto a 28-27 lead after one.

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges combine for 24 of New York’s 28 points. Tune in now on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ and ESPN+ to catch the second quarter action.

First Christmas points for Wemby

Victor Wembanyama nets his first career bucket on Christmas Day. He’s got four points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks in seven minutes of play.

New York and San Antonio are battling in MSG, as the Knicks currently hold a 22-19 lead with under two minutes to go in the first.

Mikal warming up early 🔥

Mikal Bridges gets the Knicks going with nine of their first 15 points (4-4 FG, 1-1 3PT). The Spurs and Knicks are underway with San Antonio out to the 16-15 lead with 5:08 to go in the first quarter.

Wemby locked in 🔒

Victor Wembanyama is ready for action in his first NBA Christmas Day game. Over his last three games, Wemby has averaged 32.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 7.3 blocks in a little over 34 minutes per contest.

San Antonio is currently 15-14, good for ninth and a Play-In spot in the Western Conference.

KAT did his best 😂

Karl-Anthony Towns is all smiles today while warming up for the Knick’s matchup with the Spurs. He did his best to help get the dunk attempt to drop.

Knicks and Spurs tip off is set for 12:00 ET on ABC and ESPN!

📝 Top Storylines 📝

  1. The New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs in our first Christmas Day game, with the Knicks going for their fifth consecutive win. Victor Wembanyama makes his second career start in Madison Square Garden and his first game on Christmas, as the Spurs make their first holiday appearance since 2016.
  2. Boston looks to get back in the win column when they host the Philadelphia 76ers in a divisional matchup. The Celtics have lost two of their last three games while the Sixers have gone 7-3 in their last ten, including a win over Wemby and the Spurs on Monday.
  3. LeBron James and Stephen Curry face off on Christmas for the fourth time today when the LA Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are playing for the 12th straight year on Christmas as they try to right the ship, losing four of their last five games and seven of their last ten.

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