​In their second summer league appearance, Knicks lottery pick Tyler Nickel stood out with a notable performance, yet New York succumbed to the Spurs with a 70-49 defeat. The setback leaves the Knicks at 0-2 in the early stages of the summer league, though there were encouraging signs to take away from the game.
Nickel, who had impressed in the opener, finished with a team-high 16 points. He shot 6 of 14 from the floor and converted 4 of 11 attempts from beyond the arc, marking a solid showing despite a slight dip in shooting efficiency compared to his first summer league game. The Vanderbilt product earned a starting role and also contributed two rebounds, one assist, and two blocks over 30 minutes of action, underscoring his all-around potential and willingness to impact both ends of the floor.
Joining Nickel in the starting lineup was Pacome Dadiet, who had led the Knicks with 20 points in Friday’s loss. Dadiet managed 13 points on 4 of 12 shooting, including 1 of 6 from three-point range, along with three rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block across 23 minutes on the hardwood. While not as efficient as his previous effort, Dadiet continued to provide scoring punch and versatility for the Knicks’ lineup.
Mohamed Diawara’s early-season struggles in the summer league persisted in this game. After scoring seven points on Friday, Diawara went scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting, including 0-for-3 from three-point range. He did contribute five rebounds, one assist, and a block over 26 minutes, but the drought highlighted the challenges he faces in finding an offensive rhythm against higher-caliber competition.
Center Liam Robbins also went without a point in his 13 minutes, while Dillon Jones took the reins at point guard for the Knicks, starting the second consecutive game. Jones delivered six points on 2-of-5 shooting, along with three assists, one rebound, one block, and two steals across 20 minutes, continuing to show playmaking and defensive tenacity in limited minutes.
Another bright spot for New York was rookie Jack Kayil, making his summer league debut for the Knicks. The second-round pick logged 21 minutes and accumulated 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting, in addition to five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, demonstrating his willingness to contribute in multiple facets of the game and to adapt quickly to the level of competition.
Defensively, the Knicks faced challenges containing forward Carter Bryant, who led all scorers with 19 points on an efficient 7-for-10 shooting. UConn product Tarris Reed Jr. added five points in 23 minutes, while Ja’Kobi Gillespie contributed 14 points as the starting point guard, helping to guide the Spurs’ offense and maintain pressure on New York’s defense.
Looking ahead, the Knicks will attempt to rebound in their next outing as they prepare to face the Detroit Pistons on Monday. The matchup offers a chance to build on the positives from this game—such as Nickel’s scoring and Kayil’s early impact—while tightening defensive rotations and improving consistency across the roster. As the summer league continues, New York will aim to translate these individual performances into a more cohesive team effort and a victory that gets them on the board in the win column.