Gregg Popovich blasts "pathetic" San Antonio Spurs

Gregg Popovich has described the San Antonio Spurs' performance as "pathetic" following their defeat to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The NBA champions were beaten 104-100 in overtime by the side with the worst record in the league, despite leading by 13 points midway through the third quarter.

The coach told ESPN: "We didn't respect the game, we didn't respect our opponent. It was a pathetic performance and I hope that every player is embarrassed. Not because 'we are supposed to win the game' but it is about how you play the game.

"I take my hat off to [Knicks coach Derek Fisher], a really difficult year and watching Derek conduct himself the way he has all year long is a really impressive thing. He and the coaches deserve a lot of credit and the players were fantastic tonight. They moved the ball better than we did, they played better team basketball.

"Their juice and competitiveness was better than ours. They respected the game. They got rewarded for it. So I am happy for them. It will help them get through the rest of the year."

The result leaves the Spurs with a 37-30 record, keeping them seventh in the Western Conference standings.