Vic's Night Caps: Feb. 5, 2025

Published: Wednesday, February 5, 2025

by Victor Lisboa

Week 15 was full of action, with the announcement of some All-Star reserves and a dramatic ending. Perhaps the most surprising trade in recent NBA history came late Saturday night when news broke that the Mavericks are moving on from Luka Doncic, swapping him for Anthony Davis. Darren highlighted two key matchups for Week 15.

Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks: A Battle in the Big Apple

The Denver Nuggets entered the matchup fourth in the Western Conference. They rank third in offense, averaging 122.3 points per game, but are tied for 24th in defense, allowing 116.4 points per game. Nikola Jokic, who turns 30 in two weeks, remains one of the league’s top stars, averaging a triple-double and contending for his fourth MVP award.

The New York Knicks entered the game third in the Eastern Conference, closing in on the second-seeded reigning champion Boston Celtics. The Knicks rank fourth in offense, averaging 117.9 points per game, and ninth in defense, allowing 111.4 points per game. They are led by All-Star starters Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, who are both enjoying career-best seasons.

Nikola Jokic picked up two fouls in the first two minutes, forcing him to the bench early. This came after OG Anunoby blew past Jokic for an easy basket to spark a 15-0 run that gave New York a 12-point lead. Jokic didn’t return until just over seven minutes remained in the second quarter, impacting his effectiveness.  

The NBA leader in triple-doubles with 21, Jokic didn’t reach double figures in any category until the fourth quarter. He and Aaron Gordon made back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Knicks' lead to four with about five minutes left, but New York responded with an 8-2 run to regain a double-digit advantage.  

The Knicks played aggressively on both ends, scoring 25 fast-break points and converting 23 points off turnovers. Jamal Murray led all scorers with 33 points, adding six assists and five rebounds. Three-time MVP Jokic was held to 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists.  

Jalen Brunson had an efficient night with 30 points on 10-for-16 shooting (62%) and 15 assists. Anunoby contributed 23 points, going 5-for-7 (71%) from 3-point range.  

Darren accurately predicted a close game, with the Knicks pulling away late for a 122-112 victory.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. San Antonio Spurs: The Vets vs. the Rising Stars

After the first two weeks of the season, the Milwaukee Bucks were among the bottom five teams in the NBA, seemingly on the verge of collapse. To their credit, they've turned things around. They now rank 12th in offensive scoring (114.3 points per game) and sit in the middle of the league defensively, allowing 112.8 points per game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is having another spectacular season at age 30, averaging 31.8 points (second in the league), 12.2 rebounds (fifth), and 5.9 assists per game. He's joined by Damian Lillard, who at age 34 is contributing 25 points and 7.3 assists per game.

The Spurs are three games behind the 10th seed for Play-In Tournament consideration, currently holding the 12th seed. Before this matchup, rumors of a potential trade swirled. On Sunday, San Antonio acquired De'Aaron Fox in a three-team trade, dramatically reshaping the team's outlook.

This was a close game through the first three quarters. Both teams were tied at 35 after the first quarter, and the Bucks took a 71-70 lead into halftime.  

Victor Wembanyama finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks. He was held to just two points in the first quarter but made three blocks to keep the Spurs competitive. In the third quarter, Wembanyama hit a remarkable 34-foot three-pointer that bounced off the backboard twice and rimmed out before dropping, sparking gasps from the crowd. He scored 14 points in the period, building momentum for San Antonio to go on scoring runs in the fourth quarter.  

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 35 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. Damian Lillard added 22 points and seven assists, while Khris Middleton contributed 21 points off the bench, shooting 8 of 9 (89%). Despite these efforts, the Spurs controlled the pace in the second half and outscored the Bucks by 25 points in fast-break opportunities. At one point, San Antonio led by 28.  

Stephon Castle added 20 points and is now averaging 16.8 points over his last nine starts.  

Darren had predicted that Antetokounmpo would be too much for the Spurs' defense. Although Antetokounmpo played well, the Bucks' defense was unprepared for the Spurs' offensive explosion. San Antonio scored 144 points to defeat Milwaukee, which managed 118. The Spurs improved to 21-24 on the season. 

Victor Lisboa can be reached at victor.lisboa@student.shu.edu.

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