No.1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama has struggled in his first appearance at Madison Square Garden as his San Antonio Spurs suffered a third straight NBA defeat in a 126-105 loss to New York.
Wembanyama missed his first seven shots, had two airballs and made just one field goal through the opening three quarters at the famed venue on Thursday (AEDT) as the Knicks' lead blew out to as much as 30 points.
The 224cm talent, who entered the game leading all rookies with 19.4 points per game, was in danger of failing to score in double figures for the first time in his short career.
But he managed eight points in the fourth period to finish with 14 on 4-for-14 shooting.
Wembanyama also tallied nine rebounds, but missed all four of his three-point attempts and coughed up three turnovers.
Jalen Brunson scored 25 points for the Knicks (4-4), with RJ Barrett (24 points, six assists) and Julius Randle (23 points, 16 rebounds) also influential.
Wembanyama was still the equal second-highest scorer for the Spurs (3-5) behind Jeremy Sochan (16 points).
Australian guard Josh Giddey also had an off night shooting as his red-hot Oklahoma City teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped a personal season-high 43 points to lead the Thunder to a 128-120 win over Cleveland.
It was Gilgeous-Alexander's eighth career 40-point game, and he shot at better than 68 per cent from the field.
Giddey's eight points came on 4-for-11 shooting as he also tallied six assists and five rebounds.
Fellow Boomer Matisse Thybulle enjoyed a season-high 13 points but his Portland Trail Blazers suffered a 121-118 overtime defeat at the Sacramento Kings.
Another Australian in Ben Simmons missed out on the Brooklyn Nets' 100-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers as Lonnie Walker scored 21 points off the bench.
Simmons has a hip injury, but could return on Friday against Boston.
Paul George (24 points) and Kawhi Leonard (17) were prominent for the Clippers, but they could not prevent a third straight loss.
Joel Embiid had 27 points and 10 rebounds to lead Philadelphia to a 106-103 win over the Celtics.
It was the 76ers' sixth-straight win, with a 6-1 record leaving them top of the Eastern Conference.
Defending champions and Western Conference-leading Denver have a NBA-best 8-1 record after reigning MVP Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Nuggets' 108-105 win over second-placed Golden State.
Steph Curry led the Warriors with 23 points.
