Knicks Edge Spurs, Secure 2-0 Lead in NBA Finals
As the final moments of the game ticked away, San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama left the court, while the New York Knicks players, including guards Landry Shamet and Josh Hart, along with center Mitchell Robinson, celebrated their win. The game took place in San Antonio on Friday.
The New York Knicks are heading home with a solid advantage, needing just two more wins to secure an NBA championship—a title their fans have eagerly anticipated for decades. Jalen Brunson’s decisive free throw with 9.5 seconds left, following a crucial turnover by Wembanyama, clinched a 105-104 victory for the Knicks. Wembanyama missed a crucial shot at the buzzer.
“What a ballgame,” Knicks coach Mike Brown commented.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each contributed 20 points. The team’s victory extended their streak to 13 consecutive wins in the playoffs, a notable achievement in NBA history.
Karl-Anthony Towns expressed his appreciation for the support: “New York City showed up. The fans showed up. The energy showed up. And we found a way to get it done.”
The Knicks have now joined an elite group of teams that have won the first two games of an NBA Finals series on the road. Previously, only Michael Jordan’s 1993 Chicago Bulls and Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1995 Houston Rockets accomplished such a feat. Both teams went on to win their respective championships, and the Knicks are well-positioned to do the same.
Although Wembanyama had a quiet start, he eventually scored 29 points. De’Aaron Fox added 20 points for the Spurs. Wembanyama remarked, “We can’t change the past. We’re already thinking about Game 3.”
The series now transitions to New York, with Game 3 slated for Monday night at Madison Square Garden. President Donald Trump, a native New Yorker, plans to attend. Tickets for the game are in high demand, with prices nearing $9,000 for the least favorable seats, as Knicks fans eagerly anticipate their team’s potential historic achievement.
The Spurs managed to erode a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, tying the game. Wembanyama’s critical three-point play gave the Spurs their first lead since earlier in the game. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said, “We showed tremendous desperation, urgency, and competitive response. Hopefully, we can try to bottle that up and play to that same level.”
Nevertheless, the Knicks claimed the final points. Brunson secured the crucial baskets to tie the game and subsequently retake the lead after another Wembanyama misstep. OG Anunoby rebounded the ball with 30 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Brunson’s game-winning free throws.
The Spurs had one last attempt but were unsuccessful, as Wembanyama’s shot attempt bounced off the rim. “We had to get a stop. We hadn’t gotten a stop all quarter,” Towns commented, highlighting the team’s defensive efforts.
Next, the Knicks head back to New York, with optimism high as they stand just two victories away from a long-awaited NBA championship.