Unbeaten Knicks know test awaits them in San Antonio

Mike Woodson said he plans to start the same way tomorrow when the Knicks play the West-best Spurs. Woodson called the game “a big test.” It probably is the Knicks’ biggest challenge thus far.

The Heat didn’t pose much of a threat in the first game of the season. The Knicks also had some extra emotion playing the first game in New York after Superstorm Sandy. But the next four games were against teams without some top players.

The Sixers didn’t have Andrew Bynum the two games the Knicks played against them. The Mavericks were missing Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, and the Magic were minus Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu and Al Harrington.

The Spurs are healthy and still have one of the top trios in basketball in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili and arguably the best coach in Gregg Popovich.

“We’re playing a well-oiled machine,” Woodson said. “This team is well-put together. Pop has won titles with this team. The core group is still in place and he just plugs players in and they continue to win. That’s the sign of a great coach and players that want to play for him. It’ll be a great test for our ball club.”

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North Babylon native Danny Green hit the game-winning three for the Spurs in Tuesday's win over the Lakers.