Spurs overcome Randle's 41, hand Knicks fifth straight loss
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Keldon Johnson scored 30 points and the San Antonio Spurs overcame a season-high 41 points from Julius Randle to beat New York 122-115 on Thursday night, handing the Knicks their fifth straight loss.
Spurs guard Romeo Langford added a career-high 23 points for the Spurs, who were without injured starter Devin Vassell. Tre Jones added 13 points and Jeremy Sochan had 12.
Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley had a career-high 36 points while starting in place of injured point guard Jalen Brunson.
New York only led briefly after blowing a nine-point lead with 33 seconds left in regulation in an overtime loss to Luka Doncic and Dallas on Tuesday.
Randle’s 3-pointer midway through the first quarter gave the Knicks their largest lead of the game at 23-18. The Spurs would reclaim the lead 2 1/2 minutes later and never trail again.
After Doug McDermott made a 3-pointer, Johnson hit consecutive 3s to give the Spurs their largest lead at 90-73 with 3 1/2 minutes remaining.
San Antonio finished 11 for 28 on 3-pointers and outscored New York 62-42 in the paint.
TIP-INS
Knicks: Randle was kneed in the stomach by Mitchell Robinson in the fourth quarter as the New York teammates battled for a rebound. Randle remained on the court for about a minute before rising and remaining in the game. … New York concludes a three-game trip to Texas on Saturday in Houston. … Brunson missed his second straight game with a sore right hip. … Quickley made his third start of the season. Quickley has made three starts in each of his previous two seasons.
Spurs: Langford’s previous career high was 19 points against Miami on Dec. 10. Langford entered Thursday averaging a career-best 5.9 points, the highest of his four-year career. … Johnson was limited to 1:59 in the first quarter after picking up two fouls in the opening two minutes. Johnson, who returned to open the second quarter, played 31 minutes.
UP NEXT
Knicks: At Houston on Saturday.
Spurs: Host Dallas on Saturday.
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