Spurs Earn First Summer League Win as Carter Bryant Leads the Way

The San Antonio Spurs secured their first victory of the 2026 NBA Summer League after defeating the New York Knicks 70-49 in Las Vegas on Saturday. While Summer League results do not determine regular-season success, the matchup offered another opportunity for young players to prove themselves and gave fans more NBA News to follow as teams continue evaluating their newest talent.

San Antonio entered the game looking to recover after losses in the California Classic and its Las Vegas opener against the Atlanta Hawks. The convincing win showed noticeable improvement on both ends of the floor, with the Spurs controlling the game for long stretches through disciplined defense and balanced scoring.

Bryant delivers his best performance

Carter Bryant led all scorers with 19 points while shooting 7-for-10 from the field and making both of his three-point attempts. The former first-round pick also looked far more confident offensively, attacking open spaces and taking perimeter shots without hesitation after showing limited scoring aggression earlier in his young career.

Bryant's performance highlighted why the Spurs continue investing in his development. His defense has already been viewed as an NBA-ready skill, but his improved scoring ability gave coaches another reason to believe he can become one of the rising stars in the NBA if his offensive consistency continues to grow.

Beyond his scoring, Bryant remained active throughout the game by making smart decisions with the ball and contributing to San Antonio's defensive effort. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor helped the Spurs maintain control after building an early lead, giving the coaching staff another encouraging performance as the team continues evaluating its young talent during Summer League.

Spurs receive contributions across the roster

Bryant was not the only Spur to make an impact. Ja'Kobi Gillespie finished with 14 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals while committing just one turnover, giving San Antonio steady play at the guard position throughout the contest.

Rookie center Tarris Reed Jr. also impressed despite scoring only five points. He grabbed nine rebounds, including four offensive boards, and consistently brought energy by diving for loose balls and competing for every possession. Maliq Brown added eight points, eight rebounds, two steals, and one block, although the Spurs will likely hope to see him become more involved offensively after attempting only two field goals.

San Antonio established control early, taking a 16-10 lead after the opening quarter before breaking the game open in the second period. The Spurs outscored New York 23-7 during the quarter to build a comfortable 39-17 halftime advantage, allowing them to manage the lead for the rest of the afternoon.

Knicks continue searching for answers

New York showed better energy after halftime by winning the third quarter, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. The Knicks finished the game shooting just 26.5 percent from the field, while San Antonio's defensive pressure forced difficult shots and prevented any sustained comeback.

Tyler Nickel led New York with 16 points and four three-pointers, providing most of the team's outside scoring. Pacôme Dadiet added 13 points, while Jack Kayil contributed 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals off the bench, but the Knicks struggled to generate consistent offense beyond those individual efforts.

Although Summer League standings are rarely the main focus, both organizations are using these games to evaluate young talent before training camp. For San Antonio, Bryant's breakout performance, Gillespie's composure, and Reed's work on the glass offered encouraging signs as the franchise continues developing its young core. Those individual performances have become one of the more interesting pieces of NBA News, especially for fans tracking the league's next generation of talent and the rising stars in the NBA.