OG Anunoby of New York Knicks (C) competes during the final game 2 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Sun Yuxuan/Xinhua)
WASHINGTON, June 6 (Xinhua) -- San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama missed a potential game winner as the New York Knicks notched a 105-104 road victory over the Spurs to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals on Friday.
Wembanyama had a game-high 29 points but fell short in the dying moment. After grabbing a rebound, he turned it over with a bad pass into the back of teammate Stephon Castle. Jalen Brunson got the ball and was fouled by Wembanyama with 9.5 seconds remaining, before making one of two free throws to earn the Knicks a one-point lead.
The French center then missed a contested jumper at the buzzer as the Knicks held on for their second consecutive road win in the Finals.
"I threw that one away," Wembanyama said. "I messed up. We didn't play great as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours. But at this point, it's done. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely."
The Knicks joined the 1993 Chicago Bulls and the 1995 Houston Rockets as the only teams to win the first two games of the championship series on the road, with the other two teams going on to win the title, and also extended their playoff winning streak to 13 games - the second-longest in postseason history.
Down by 12 points early in the second quarter, the Knicks turned the game on their head, building its first lead at 49-48 with 3:39 remaining in the quarter through Landry Shamet's layup en route to a 56-52 halftime lead.
Brunson's 3-pointer moved the Knicks ahead 64-54 with 9:21 to play in the third quarter, and they seemed well on track for the win with a 14-point lead midway through the final period.
However, the Spurs rode a 14-0 scoring run to erase the deficit. Wembanyama's three-point play with 57.3 seconds remaining gave the Spurs their first lead since the second quarter at 104-102, but his error in the closing stages proved costly.
"It's an amazing feeling as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is no matter what the situation is in front of them," Knicks coach Mike Brown said. "To see them continue to fight and fight and fight and fight, no matter what the score is, no matter how much time is on the clock, it's just a fantastic feeling."
The Knicks had a balanced attack, with three players scoring at least 20 points. Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds.
The best-of-seven series now shifts to New York for the next two games, with Game 3 scheduled on Monday. ■
Victor Wembanyama (top) of San Antonio Spurs competes during the final game 2 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Sun Yuxuan/Xinhua)
Victor Wembanyama (R) of San Antonio Spurs defends New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during the final game 2 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Sun Yuxuan/Xinhua)
Julian Champagnie (R) of San Antonio Spurs competes during the final game 2 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Sun Yuxuan/Xinhua)
Julian Champagnie (R) of San Antonio Spurs shoots during the final game 2 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Sun Yuxuan/Xinhua)
Victor Wembanyama (1st R) of San Antonio Spurs competes during the final game 2 between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the 2025-2026 NBA basketball game in San Antonio, the United States, June 5, 2026. (Photo by Sun Yuxuan/Xinhua)
