De’Aaron Fox said he got shots he’d made before, but “some” didn’t fall in San Antonio’s 94-90 Game 5 loss to the New York Knicks. Fox finished with seven points on 3-for-15 shooting, including 1-for-8 from deep, as Stephon Castle also struggled offensively an
For De’Aaron Fox, the moment came after the misses piled up in Game 5. San Antonio’s offense never really found its rhythm in the 94-90 loss to the New York Knicks. and by the final buzzer it was clear the Spurs’ season was over—done in five games. 4-1. to the same opponent that had already taken the Finals stage.
Fox pointed to something simple and painful: he felt the looks were there. “I got shots I’ve made in the past. Sometimes you just don’t make them. Some felt good. Back rim, in and out,” he said after the loss.
When the Knicks flipped the script defensively, Fox described a physical contest that changed what San Antonio could produce. “But that team is physical. They force you into taking jump shots and try to keep you out of the paint.”
The numbers told part of the story, and the rest came from how the shots looked on the floor. Stephon Castle went 1-for-10 for six points, while Fox finished with seven points on 3-for-15 shooting, including 1-for-8 from deep. Fox also added five assists and two steals for the Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama still gave San Antonio a strong baseline: 19 points on 7-for-19 attempts, along with 14 rebounds, five blocks, and two assists. But the wider offensive struggles kept the Spurs from doing enough at the moments that mattered.
Dylan Harper led San Antonio’s scoring off the bench with 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting.
That Game 5 outcome carried a second sting because it ended the Knicks’ Finals run the way it was supposed to—New York clinched the NBA Finals. and San Antonio’s season concluded with it. For Fox. the frustration of the scoreline was wrapped into his explanation: some shots were within reach. and the Knicks made the difference by making the next option harder.
On the Spurs’ sideline, head coach Mitch Johnson kept his message brief but direct about Jalen Brunson. After Brunson’s 45-point performance powered the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years, Johnson said at his postgame media availability: “Make him [Jalen Brunson] score less points.”
It was the kind of summary that lands fast because it’s tied to what the opposing star did on the largest stage.
By the time everyone turned the page, the picture was set for what comes next for San Antonio. The Spurs will enter the offseason as Western Conference champions. building on their first NBA Finals appearance in over a decade—this time after a five-game run that ended exactly where it begins to hurt most.
De'Aaron Fox Spurs Knicks Game 5 NBA Finals Mitch Johnson Jalen Brunson Victor Wembanyama Dylan Harper Stephon Castle