The New York Knicks have sealed a momentous victory at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and, in a tight finish where Frenchman Victor Wembanyama spoiled his great second half, triumphed 105-104 to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals and move two wins away from the ring. The Spurs were on the verge of overcoming a fourteen-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but succumbed in the final seconds when Jalen Brunson (20 points) scored the decisive free throw for the final 105-104 and Victor Wembanyama missed the last shot for the Texans.
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Wemby scored 22 of his 29 points (9 rebounds and 4 blocks) in the second half, but in the final seconds he went from hero to villain, with a turnover and a foul that sent Brunson to the free-throw line for the decisive basket. The 22-year-old Frenchman, in his first Finals, bravely took the last shot, but missed it. The game ended with chants of “Let’s go Knicks” in San Antonio and unleashed the New York celebration, with the next two games to be played on Monday and Wednesday at a packed Madison Square Garden, where the presence of US President Donald Trump is also expected.
Dominican Karl Anthony Towns recorded a double-double of 21 points and thirteen rebounds, Jalen Brunson added 20 points, five rebounds and six assists, and Mikal Bridges also contributed twenty points for the Knicks. Landry Shamet also stepped up with thirteen points off the bench. For the Spurs, it was a traumatic setback that leaves them on the brink of the abyss in their first Finals in twelve years. A spectacular 14-0 run in the fourth quarter was not enough to avoid defeat. De’Aaron Fox scored twenty points for San Antonio, Dylan Harper scored 15, and Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle did not exceed fourteen each.
The Spurs, from more to less
The Spurs were called to react after Wednesday’s defeat and took to the court with clear ideas, attentive in decision-making, forceful with their shooting, and aggressive in defense. They shot with 65% accuracy in the first period and even held a twelve-point lead at 37-25, but they went from more to less. The Knicks started poorly, but settled in and came back with an extraordinary Towns. The Dominican, who had scored 18 points in the first game, already had 17 by halftime. He changed the inertia of the game, and his spectacular performance clashed with that of a lost Wembanyama, who only took four shots, scoring two, and who strung together serious turnovers that the Knicks exploited to take a four-point lead into halftime (56-52).
Despite their first lead only coming at the end of the second quarter, the scoreboard left the Spurs very shaken. The Knicks already had three players in double digits. In addition to Towns, Mikal Bridges had eleven after his four-of-five shooting, and Jalen Brunson had ten.
KNICKS GET THE HUGE DEFENSIVE STOP TO WIN GAME 2 🚨
THEY’VE WON 13 STRAIGHT AND LEAD THE NBA FINALS, 2-0 🚨 pic.twitter.com/5V67qIcT7F
— NBA (@NBA) June 6, 2026
The Spurs had a tough time, but they didn’t throw in the towel. Wembanyama showed pride and scored twelve points in the third quarter, shooting five of eight. The Spurs cut the deficit to 72-76 and gave themselves a chance, although the Knicks, with nine points from a Bridges who made all four of his shots, managed to take a nine-point lead into the final segment. Landry Shamet delivered a blow for the Knicks with a three-pointer for a twelve-point lead to open the quarter, and the Spurs responded with a 7-0 run, paced by a now-rhythmic Wembanyama.
A vibrant, high-tension end to the game unfolded, with sparks even flying between Fox and Brunson after a very physical and aggressive defense from the former. The Spurs seemed to have lost it when McBride connected a devastating three-pointer and OG Anunoby, with a dunk, put 97-83 on the scoreboard. But their response was an incredible 14-0 run in three minutes that brought the crowd completely back into the game.
Wembanyama, with a powerful drive, gave the Spurs their first lead of the second half, at 104-102 with 57 seconds to play. But the Frenchman paid for his lack of experience in the final moments. He grabbed the rebound that would have given the Spurs the last shot with the score tied, but he fumbled the pass and, after Brunson’s recovery, fouled his opponent, sending him to the free-throw line. The one-of-two from the former Dallas Mavericks player meant the Spurs controlled their destiny, but Wemby’s last shot was repelled by the rim. The Knicks secured a huge victory to begin savoring NBA glory, which has eluded them since their last championship in 1973.
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