Key takeaways:
- The Knicks beat the Spurs 105-104 in Game 2 and took a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
- Jalen Brunson made the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds left after a Victor Wembanyama turnover.
- New York became the third team to win the first two games of an NBA Finals on the road, joining the 1993 Bulls and 1995 Rockets.
Jalen Brunson delivered again in the final seconds, and the New York Knicks are heading home two wins from their first NBA championship since 1973.
Brunson sank the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds left Friday night after a costly Victor Wembanyama turnover, then watched Wembanyama’s potential winner bounce off the rim as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. The victory gave New York a 2-0 series lead before the matchup shifts to Madison Square Garden.
“What a ballgame,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said.
Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Brunson and Mikal Bridges each added 20 points for the Knicks, who have won 13 straight playoff games, the second-longest streak by any team in NBA postseason history, according to NPR. The Knicks also became only the third team to win the first two games of an NBA Finals on the road, joining the 1993 Chicago Bulls and 1995 Houston Rockets. Both of those teams went on to win the championship.
“We played hard, we got ourselves a lead. It’s something we’ve done so well in this playoffs. We’ve gotten leads and we’ve held the leads,” Towns said. “Today, the Spurs fought. They got themselves back into the lead and put themselves in a position to win… but we found a way to get it done.”
San Antonio nearly completed a dramatic comeback. The Spurs trailed by 14 midway through the fourth quarter before scoring 14 straight points behind Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox to tie the game at 97-97 with 3:00 remaining. Wembanyama’s three-point play with 57 seconds left gave San Antonio its first lead in nearly two quarters, 104-102.
Brunson answered with a driving basket to tie the game. Wembanyama missed on San Antonio’s next possession, and OG Anunoby grabbed the rebound with 30 seconds left. The Knicks called timeout, but the Spurs forced a miss and appeared to have another chance.
Then Wembanyama threw the ball away while trying to begin San Antonio’s final possession, with his pass going off the back of teammate Stephon Castle. Brunson drew a foul and made the free throw that put New York ahead.
The Spurs still had one last chance after calling timeout with 7.5 seconds remaining. Fox inbounded the ball and found Wembanyama for an open jumper from about 20 feet, but the shot hit the back rim and came off.
“Of course I liked the shot,” Wembanyama said afterward. “In moments like this, results matter more than process. We just needed to score. I just needed to score. That’s the whole point.”
Wembanyama finished with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting in 40 minutes after a quieter first half and a difficult Finals debut in Game 1. Fox scored 20 for San Antonio.
“We can’t change the past,” Wembanyama said. “We’re already thinking about Game 3.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised his team’s late response despite the loss.
“We showed tremendous desperation, urgency and competitive response,” Johnson said. “Hopefully we can try to bottle that up… and try to play to that same level.”
No team in NBA history has won the championship after losing the first two games of the Finals at home.
Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night at Madison Square Garden. President Donald Trump, a native New Yorker, plans to attend, NPR reported. Secondary-market ticket prices for the worst seats at MSG were approaching $9,000 apiece Friday night as the Knicks moved closer to what would be their first title in 53 years.
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