SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 31 — For the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, the fireworks are starting early.
When the two sides tip off at the Frost Bank Center tonight to close out 2025, it won’t just be a battle between two 23-9 squads vying for conference supremacy. It will be a grudge match. Just two weeks removed from their clash in Las Vegas, where New York claimed the NBA Cup, the Spurs are hunting for revenge on their home floor.
But the Knicks arriving in Texas are not the same healthy juggernaut that lifted the trophy.
Walking Wounded
New York’s 11-3 run in December has been impressive, but it has come at a steep physical cost. The team’s depth chart is currently being tested by a wave of injuries that threatens to derail their momentum.
The Knicks have already ruled out three key rotation pieces: defensive anchor Mitchell Robinson (ankle), glue-guy Josh Hart (ankle), and sharpshooter Landry Shamet (shoulder).
Compounding the issue is the status of rookie center Ariel Hukporti. Listed as questionable after taking an elbow to the face from Zion Williamson in the Knicks’ recent win over New Orleans, his potential absence creates a massive void in the frontcourt.
The Frontcourt Dilemma
If Hukporti cannot suit up, head coach Tom Thibodeau faces a tactical nightmare. The Spurs boast one of the league’s most imposing frontlines, anchored by the alien talent of Victor Wembanyama and the size of 7-foot-1 backup Luke Kornet.
Without Robinson or Hukporti, the burden falls squarely on Karl-Anthony Towns to stay out of foul trouble. It also likely forces Guerschon Yabusele into extended minutes. While Yabusele has been a revelation since his return to the NBA, asking him to play undersized center against Wembanyama is a tall order—literally and figuratively.
“If Hukporti is unable to suit up, the Knicks’ frontcourt depth will be thin,” one scout noted. “Yabusele may be asked to play extended minutes in relief… especially considering the length of San Antonio’s frontcourt.”
The Road Ahead
Despite the attrition, New York has shown resilience, with backup point guard Tyler Kolek (probable, ankle soreness) expected to grit it out. A win tonight would cap a dominant month and send the Knicks back to Madison Square Garden with momentum for a brutal back-to-back against Atlanta and Philadelphia starting Friday.
For San Antonio, the motivation is simple: protect home court and prove the Cup Final was a fluke. For New York, it’s about survival.
