Karl-Anthony Towns was Victor Wembanyama’s kryptonite in the win
Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks faced a litmus test when they hosted Victor Vembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
Towns, in particular, had to rise to the challenge of pairing against Vembanyama.
So that’s exactly what he did.
The Knicks beat the Spurs 114-89to snap their 11-game winning streak, with Towns playing a big role. He didn’t have his usual offensive production, scoring just 12 points, well below his average. But he was excellent defensively, making life miserable for Vembanyama.
According to ESPN Insights, the Knicks’ strategy to deal Towns to Vembanyama worked perfectly.
“The Knicks were at their best defensively with Karl-Anthony Towns guarding Victor Vembanyama. The Spurs shot 26% from three on Sunday, including 2-14 (14%) on plays where KAT guarded Wemby,” read a post on X.
“Wemby’s -15 plus/minus was his second worst this season.
The Knicks were on top defense, with Karl-Anthony Towns guarding Victor Vembanyama.
The Spurs shot 26% from three on Sunday, including 2-14 (14%) in games where KAT guarded Wemby 🔒
Wemby’s -15 plus/minus was his 2nd worst this season 📊 pic.twitter.com/H8zlf6ZKaF
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) March 1, 2026
Vembanjama finished with 25 points on 8-of-17 shooting, 13 rebounds and four blocks. However, he also had seven turnovers.
The 30-year-old Towns, who also grabbed 14 rebounds, isn’t known for his defensive acumen, but he’s proven he can lock down when needed. He was also criticized by some for allegedly being soft and not wanting to get physical, but he showed a different aspect of himself against Spurs.
Mohamed Diawara and Mitchell Robinson also made solid contributions at the pivot position, combining for 18 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
The Knicks improved to 39-22, while the Spurs fell to 43-17.
New York will face the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.
2026-03-02 01:26:00
