Wembanyama costly mistake gives Knicks 2-0 Finals lead
Jalen Brunson sank the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds left as New York extended its playoff win streak to 13
The New York Knicks are two wins away from their first NBA championship since 1973. A costly late turnover by Victor Wembanyama gave Jalen Brunson the chance to sink the decisive free throw, and the Knicks held on to win Game 2 over the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 on Friday night, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead before the action shifts to Madison Square Garden.
How the final seconds unfolded
With the score level at 104-104 and 9.5 seconds remaining, Wembanyama attempted to initiate a possession for the Spurs but threw the ball off the back of teammate Stephon Castle. Brunson grabbed the loose ball, drew a foul and converted the free throw to put the Knicks ahead by one.
The Spurs still had a chance. De’Aaron Fox found Wembanyama open from 20 feet at the buzzer, but the shot rattled off the back of the rim and the Knicks escaped with the win.
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Wembanyama’s night of two halves
The 22-year-old Frenchman had a quiet first half but returned with force after the break. He scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half and led a Spurs run of 14 straight points in the fourth quarter that briefly gave San Antonio its first lead of the half. Despite finishing with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting, the late turnover and missed buzzer shot defined how his night will be remembered.
Wembanyama acknowledged after the game that he had not fully adjusted after the intensity of the conference finals and that he could have performed better. He was clear that the turnover was his fault and said he planned to use the disappointment as fuel going forward.
Brunson delivers again in the clutch
Brunson finished with 20 points on 7-for-25 shooting, an efficiency dip from his 30-point performance in Game 1, but again provided the composure the Knicks needed when it mattered most. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 21 points and 13 rebounds, steadying the team through the Spurs’ fourth-quarter charge.
Towns noted after the game that the Knicks had worked hard to build and protect leads throughout the postseason and found a way to do it again despite San Antonio’s furious finish.
Historic territory for the Knicks
New York has now won 13 consecutive playoff games, matching one of the longest single-season postseason winning streaks in NBA history. The Knicks are also only the third team to win the first two games of an NBA Finals on the road, following the 1993 Chicago Bulls and the 1995 Houston Rockets. Both of those teams went on to win the championship.
No team in NBA history has won the title after losing the first two Finals games at home.
What comes next
Game 3 moves to Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Secondary market ticket prices have climbed toward $9,000 for the worst seats in the building. US President Donald Trump, who grew up in New York, has confirmed plans to attend as the city braces for a Finals atmosphere it has not experienced in more than 50 years.
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