SAN ANTONIO — How bad was the Knicks’ offense in the first half? 

For the opening 22 minutes of Wednesday night’s ugliness, no starter other than Karl-Anthony Towns hit a field goal. 

Not one. 

Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Miles McBride and OG Anunoby missed their opening 20 attempts combined, including an air-balled midrange jumper from Bridges, as the Spurs took a 28-point lead in the second quarter. 

It was enough of a cushion for San Antonio in its 120-105 victory Wednesday night, with the Knicks feeling the crunch of a crazy travel schedule in March. 

“We knew this one was going to be tough. Young, hungry team. Plays fast. Obviously we’ve had a tough schedule the last couple weeks,” Hart said. “Going on the road for a week-and-a half. And then go home for one game and go right into a back-to-back on the road. … We knew it was going to be tough.” 

New York Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) battle for a rebound during the second half at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday night. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Knicks (43-25) have indeed been road weary lately with flights galore across time zones. But they still should have played better than Wednesday’s dud at the Frost Bank Center. 

The Spurs are depleted and facing a lost season.

Victor Wembanyama (blood clot), De’Aaron Fox (finger surgery) and Gregg Popovich (stroke) are all done for the season.

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart (3) shoots over San Antonio Spurs center Bismack Biyombo (18) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The Spurs were relying heavily on youngsters like Sandro Mamukelashvili and Blake Wesley.

They had dropped 10 of 14 games before playing New York. 

It didn’t matter. 

Sandro Mamukelashvili, who scored a game-high 34 points, rises up for a layup during the Knicks’ 120-105 loss to the Spurs on March 19, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images

The Knicks, playing their sixth straight game without injured Jalen Brunson, couldn’t hit the Hudson River with a penny from the railing of the Staten Island Ferry. 

“We were a step behind all night,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. 

They shot just 31 percent in the first half, including 4-for-19 on treys.

And even without the towering Wembanyama on the court, the Knicks were still out-rebounded, 52-44. 

Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 32 points, drives on Stephon Castle during the Knicks’ loss to the Spurs. Getty Images

“[The rebounding] was a big concern,” Thibodeau said. “Particularly when they started the game small and I thought our reaction to the ball wasn’t great. And they’re athletic and quick and we got to make sure we’re putting a body on them. And again, I felt like we were behind all night. It’s better to initiate contact rather than react to it.” 

To their credit, the Knicks didn’t just roll over after the terrible start. 

They began the second half on a 22-6 run, cutting their once seemingly insurmountable deficit to single digits in a matter of minutes.

It was a rough night for Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

They were threatening the biggest comeback in not only the NBA this season, but also in the Knicks franchise history dating back to at least 1991-92. 

But it wasn’t enough because Mamukelashvili, a Seton Hall product, produced the game of his life with 34 points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes, dominating the fourth quarter while hearing “MVP” chants.

He scored the most points in NBA history while playing less than 20 minutes. 

Jeremy Sochan slams home a dunk as OG Anunoby looks on during the Knicks’ loss to the Spurs. Getty Images

“He’s in the NBA for a reason. He’s a good player,” Hart said. “And we weren’t focused in enough or locked in enough to realize what was going on. The IQ wasn’t there. 

“When a guy has a game going like that, we have to find him. And be physical with him. And kind of get him out of rhythm. And we didn’t do that. We didn’t take anything away from him.” 

Stephon Castle, a frontrunner for Rookie of Year, added 22 points for the Spurs (29-39). 

Towns, the only Knicks offensive weapon, finished with 32 points, including 19 in the first half. Hart followed his triple-double from two nights prior with a dud — just two points in 35 minutes on 1 of 4 shooting. 

Bridges shot 5-for-13 with three turnovers.

Mikal Bridges looks to make a move under the basket during the Knicks’ loss to the Spurs. Getty Images

The road-weary Knicks then got on a plane for Charlotte, where they play Thursday night. 

“You already know the biggest thing about the NBA is the travel. That’s the toughest thing,” Hart said. “And when it’s the dog days of the season and you already know your body is going to be tired, you got to keep going and you got to find it mentally. A little bit draining mentally, but we know we got to regroup. We got another tough one tomorrow.”